Nigeria’s junior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, made history on Saturday with a thrilling 93-88 victory over China in their opening match of the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup held in Czechia.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the young Nigerian squad displayed resilience and determination, overcoming an early setback to claim their first-ever win at the global tournament. Despite being considered underdogs heading into the clash, D’Tigress defied expectations with a powerful comeback performance that energized fans and signaled their intent for the rest of the competition.
China began the match on a strong note, dominating the first quarter with a 24-16 lead and putting Nigeria under immediate pressure. However, the Nigerians fought back in the second quarter, cutting into the lead by outscoring China 22-20 and keeping themselves within striking distance at halftime.
The game’s turning point came in the third quarter, where Nigeria seized control with a dominant 23-16 run. Their defensive intensity and offensive rhythm shifted the momentum entirely in their favor heading into the final stretch.
In a tense and high-scoring fourth quarter, Nigeria held their nerve and outpaced China 32-28 to seal the victory. The win marked a significant milestone — Nigeria’s first-ever triumph at a FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup.
A standout performance came from one of Nigeria’s debutants, who delivered a flawless shooting night. She went 8-for-8 from the field, amassing 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals — a commanding display that helped push her team over the line.
This memorable win has rekindled the excitement stirred by the senior D’Tigress team’s achievements at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where they made history by winning two games and becoming the first African women’s team to reach the Olympic Quarter-Finals.
With this confidence-boosting start, Nigeria will now turn their attention to their next Group B challenge as they prepare to face Canada on Sunday.
