AFCON 2025
Nigeria’s D’Tigress have touched down in Berlin ahead of the FIBA Women’s World Cup, arriving at the German capital on Wednesday afternoon after wrapping up an engaging phase of camping in Spain.
Officials and players disembarked to a warm reception, capping a long “Road to Berlin” journey that began in Chicago and wound through China and Spain before landing at the tournament venue.
The build-up produced a mixed run of results. D’Tigress opened their exhibition programme in China with back-to-back defeats, losing 70-67 and 69-65, before rallying to beat the hosts 88-77 in the series finale in Foshan on August 12.
Spain proved tough as the hosts routed Nigeria 83-58 in Tenerife on August 21, and Belgium followed a day later with an even heavier 90-55 defeat, leaving Wakama’s side searching for answers heading into the final leg of preparations.
D’Tigress then relocated to Zaragoza for closing tune-up fixtures against Mali and Puerto Rico. However the resujt against Puerto-Rico was undisclosed while the match against Mali didn’t hold.
Head coach Rena Wakama, who combined national team duties with her assistant role at WNBA side Chicago Sky, rejoined the squad in Spain for the final stretch of camp. Her side carries continental pedigree into Germany as five-time reigning African champions, having beaten Mali 78-64 in the 2025 AfroBasket final.
Guard Ezinne Kalu remains the side’s controlling influence, dictating tempo and stretching defences with her perimeter shooting. She is joined in the backcourt by Promise Amukamara, while frontcourt anchor Murjanatu Musa and forward Amy Okonkwo add size and scoring inside, the group widely tipped as Nigeria’s biggest threats in Berlin.
D’Tigress land in Group B alongside South Korea, Hungary and France, a draw that offers a manageable opener but stiffens quickly. Nigeria face South Korea on September 4, meet Hungary on September 5, and close the group phase against a heavyweight French side on September 7.
The African champions will lean on the experience of a squad that reached the Olympic quarter-finals in Paris in 2024, hoping a rocky warm-up campaign proves a stepping stone rather than a warning sign as the World Cup tips off on September 4.
