D’Tigress announce final 12-player squad for 2026 FIBA women’s world cup qualifiers

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have confirmed their final 12-player roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament, with the list officially released by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) on Thursday, Sport360NG reports.

The squad, also revealed through the team’s official social media channels, features a blend of experienced players and emerging talents. Veteran campaigners Ezinne Kalu, Sarah Ogoke, Amy Okonkwo and Promise Amukamara headline the roster, alongside Elizabeth Balogun, Nicole Enabosi, Victoria Macaulay, Murjanatu Musa, Pallas Kunayi-Akpanah, Rita Igbokwe, Ifunaya Okoro and Blessing Ejiofor.

The seven-time African champions will compete in the qualifying tournament scheduled to take place from March 11 to 17 in Lyon, France. Nigeria will begin their campaign against Colombia on March 11, before facing South Korea on March 12. They will then take on the Philippines on March 14, hosts France on March 15 and Germany on March 17.

The top three teams from the group will advance to the next phase of the competition.

Although D’Tigress have already secured automatic qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin after winning the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket, the Lyon tournament will serve as an important opportunity for the team to fine-tune tactics and strengthen squad cohesion ahead of the global showpiece.

Germany, as hosts, alongside Australia, Belgium and the United States, have already booked their places at the tournament.

Head coach Rena Wakama had earlier announced an expanded provisional roster before reducing the list to the final 12 players ahead of the competition.

In the first edition of the power rankings for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup released on Thursday, FIBA placed Nigeria eighth globally, citing the team’s recent success and the depth of its squad.

With their place in the World Cup already secured, the African champions will use the qualifiers as preparation for the tournament in Berlin, where they could emerge as a competitive force.

Murjanatu Musa’s strong performances in the EuroLeague Women, combined with the experience of players such as Kalu and Okonkwo, could strengthen Nigeria’s chances of challenging top teams like France and Germany in the group.

Nigeria previously featured at the Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2006 in Brazil and again in 2018 in Spain. The team will be aiming to improve on those outings when the competition takes place in Germany in September 2026.

Following the qualifying tournament in France, D’Tigress are also scheduled to embark on a historic tour of the United States in April. During the visit, they will face WNBA side Minnesota Lynx in a preseason exhibition, becoming the first African national team to play against a WNBA franchise as part of their preparations for the World Cup.