Nigeria’s U-18 women’s basketball team, the Junior D’Tigress, have secured qualification for the 2027 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in China after defeating hosts Côte d’Ivoire 53-50 in the semi-final of the FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket.
The victory also booked Nigeria a place in Sunday’s AfroBasket final against Mali. The National Sports Commission (NSC) Director-General, Bukola Olopade, praised the players for showing resilience, discipline and composure despite the pressure of playing before a hostile home crowd.
Olopade described the hard-fought victory as evidence of the team’s quality and fighting spirit, saying the players deserved commendation for securing the World Cup ticket. He also congratulated the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for its contribution to the development of the country’s women’s national teams.
The NSC boss assured the Junior D’Tigress and the NBBF of continued government support and proper preparations ahead of the 2027 World Cup in China. He also expressed confidence that the team could go a step further by defeating Mali and winning the continental title.
Nigeria’s qualification marks another strong showing by the Junior D’Tigress, who have reached the FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket final for the second consecutive edition. The team will now face Mali in a repeat of the 2024 final, with Nigeria seeking to improve on its previous runners-up finish.
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