Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, suffered their first defeat in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifiers after being beaten by South Korea in a closely contested encounter.
The Nigerian side had entered the match with an impressive run, having remained unbeaten in the earlier stages of the qualifiers. Their strong performances had once again highlighted their dominance in African women’s basketball and their growing competitiveness on the international stage. However, South Korea managed to end that run with a determined display.
South Korea started the game strongly, moving the ball quickly and taking advantage of long-range shooting to trouble the Nigerian defense early on. D’Tigress attempted to respond with aggressive attacking play and tighter defending, ensuring the match remained competitive.
Despite Nigeria’s efforts, the Korean team maintained control for much of the contest. They made the most of turnovers and fast-break opportunities to build and protect their lead.
In the second half, D’Tigress showed determination as they pushed to narrow the gap. Several key players stepped up with important contributions, but South Korea held firm in the closing moments to secure the victory.
While the defeat brought an end to Nigeria’s unbeaten streak in the qualifiers, it does not overshadow the progress the team has made in recent years. D’Tigress remain a dominant force in African basketball and continue to gain valuable experience on the global stage.
For South Korea, the victory serves as a major confidence boost as they continue their qualification campaign.
Nigeria will now aim to quickly recover from the loss and return to winning ways as the qualifiers progress.