Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have begun preparations for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup scheduled for Sept. 4 to Sept. 13 in Berlin, Germany.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) President, Musa Kida, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the federation’s Media Coordinator, Akeem Busari.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the reigning Afrobasket champions opened their training camp in Chicago, United States, from Wednesday, July 29, to Sunday, Aug. 2.
Kida said the camp would provide Coach Rena Wakama and her technical crew an opportunity to assess players ahead of the global tournament.
He revealed that the team would depart for Haikou, China, aboard a luxury aircraft provided by its partner, XE Jet.
The NBBF president said D’Tigress would play three international friendly matches in China between Aug. 3 and Aug. 14 as preparations intensify.
Following the China tour, the African champions will travel to Tenerife, Spain, from Aug. 15 to Aug. 24 for additional warm-up fixtures.
Kida noted that the team would face European heavyweights Spain and Belgium in highly competitive tune-up matches.
D’Tigress are also scheduled to conclude their World Cup build-up in Zaragoza, Spain, with further preparatory games against Mali and Puerto Rico.
Kida said the federation was leaving nothing to chance in its quest for a successful World Cup campaign.
“The board and its technical committee are working tirelessly to ensure D’Tigress are mentally, physically and tactically prepared for the World Cup,” he said.
Kida described the team as the “Queens of African basketball” and expressed confidence in their ability to compete strongly against the world’s best teams.
He also commended the federation’s partners for supporting the team’s preparations and logistics ahead of the championship.
“We appreciate all our partners, especially XE Jet, for providing seamless travel support for our national teams,” Kida said.
The multiple African champions will be aiming to build on their growing international reputation when they take on the world’s elite in Berlin. (NAN)
