Nigeria's D'Tigress opened their 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup campaign with a 99-81 defeat to South Korea at the Berlin Arena on Friday.
The African champions stayed competitive for three quarters, trailing 48-45 at halftime and briefly taking the lead in the third before South Korea pulled away in the fourth, outscoring Nigeria 31-19 to close out an 18-point win. South Korea shot 11 of 28 from three-point range, led by Leeseul Kang's six triples, while Nigeria managed just six of 20 attempts and committed 23 turnovers to South Korea's 10. Jihyun Park top-scored with 27 points; Amy Okonkwo led Nigeria with 20, and Murjanatu Musa recorded a double-double with 13 rebounds.
Nigeria qualified for the tournament as reigning African champions after winning the 2025 Women's Afrobasket and are grouped with France, Hungary and South Korea, a team that also beat them 77-60 in World Cup qualifying earlier this year. D'Tigress reached the quarterfinals at the 2018 World Cup in Tenerife, their best finish at the tournament, and are aiming to match or surpass that result this year.
The team returns to action Saturday against Hungary, needing a win to keep their progression hopes on track in a group where the top two advance to the quarterfinals.
