Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, the D’Tigress, suffered a hard-fought 93-86 defeat to France on Sunday in their FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament clash in Villeurbanne.
The hosts extended their unbeaten run in the competition after holding off a late Nigerian surge that threatened to turn the game on its head.
France, ranked third in the world, set the tone early. The home side shot with remarkable accuracy in the opening quarter and punished Nigeria on the break, racing to a 27-15 lead after the first 10 minutes.
Nigeria struggled initially around the basket, converting only 44 per cent of their two-point attempts while France found rhythm quickly, hitting an impressive 80 per cent in the early exchanges.
The D’Tigress gradually steadied themselves in the second quarter despite a stop-start rhythm caused by fouls. Veteran guard Ezinne Kalu ignited the response with a scoring burst that included eight points as Nigeria began to claw their way back.
France, however, remained lethal from long range. Janelle Salaun and Gabby Williams combined effectively from the perimeter as the hosts punished Nigeria’s defence from beyond the arc.
By half-time, France had made nine of their first 13 three-point attempts, a stunning 69 per cent conversion rate that helped them carry a 57-45 lead into the break.
Nigeria emerged stronger in the third quarter and trimmed the deficit to 57-50 following a quick 5-0 run, forcing France coach Jean-Aime Toupane to call a timeout.
The momentum briefly shifted but France responded through Marine Johannes, who buried a three-pointer after a missed attempt by Nigeria’s Elizabeth Balogun.
The D’Tigress refused to fade. Early in the final quarter they cut the gap to just two points at 76-74, raising hopes of a comeback.
France quickly steadied themselves. Pauline Astier intercepted a pass that led to a basket from Romane Bernies, restoring a five-point cushion.
From there the match became a tense back-and-forth exchange. Nigeria kept pushing but could not draw level as France protected their lead to seal a 93-86 win.
Nigeria had already secured qualification for the 2026 Women’s World Cup after winning the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket title. The tournament therefore serves largely as preparation for the global championship.
The defeat leaves the D’Tigress with two wins and two losses from four games in Villeurbanne.
They will end their campaign on Tuesday against Germany, while France face South Korea in a clash that will determine the group’s final standings.
