D’Tigress head coach Rena Wakama has expressed confidence in her team’s readiness for the FIBA Women’s World Cup scheduled to take place in Berlin, Germany, later this year, despite a series of close defeats in their recent qualifying games in Lyon.
Nigeria suffered an 81–73 loss to Germany in their final match on Tuesday at the Villeurbanne Sports Arena. However, Wakama said the experience provided valuable lessons for the team.
The African champions concluded the qualifiers with two victories and three narrow losses against South Korea, France, and Germany.
Elizabeth Balogun recorded 15 points, along with three rebounds and one assist, while Musa Mujarnatu contributed 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists. The game also marked the final international appearance of Sarah Ogoke, who has now retired.
Wakama stated that the tournament served as useful preparation ahead of the World Cup, noting that the players remained competitive and showed growth, particularly from the matches they lost.
She added that the team must improve their starts and make better decisions during crucial moments of games, stressing that they will review their performances and work on boosting their energy levels.
Meanwhile, Victoria McCaulay was named among the tournament’s standout performers, earning a place in the All-Star Five.
The 16 teams set to compete at the World Cup include host Germany, Nigeria, Australia, USA, Belgium, France, Spain, South Korea, China, Italy, Mali, Czechia, Turkey, Japan, Hungary, and Puerto Rico.
