D’Tigress begin final World Cup preparations after arriving in Berlin

Nigeria’s D’Tigress have arrived in Berlin ahead of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, where they will begin their campaign against the Republic of Korea on Friday, 4 September.

The Nigerian squad was met at the airport by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, His Excellency Senator Ita Enang, together with representatives of the Nigerian diplomatic mission in Berlin.

The reception marked the start of the team’s final preparations in Europe before the global tournament, which takes place from 4 to 13 September.

Sixteen teams will compete across two venues in Berlin, the Berlin Arena and Max-Schmeling-Halle. The expanded competition carries an additional incentive, with the eventual winners securing direct qualification for the women’s basketball tournament at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

D’Tigress, currently ranked eighth in the world, have been placed in Group B alongside France, Hungary and the Republic of Korea. Their opening fixture will be against Korea at the Berlin Arena on Friday, 4 September, before they face Hungary and France later in the first week of the tournament.

Nigeria arrive in Germany as the leading team in African women’s basketball. They won the 2025 AfroBasket title, adding another continental success to a record that has established D’Tigress as one of Africa’s most consistent teams on the international stage.

Head coach Rena Wakama has overseen a wide-ranging build-up to the tournament. The preparation programme has included training camps and friendly matches in the United States, China and Spain, giving the squad the opportunity to test itself against different styles of opposition before the World Cup begins.

The Berlin tournament represents another important chapter in the development of Nigerian basketball. D’Tigress have previously reached the quarter-finals of both the World Cup and the Olympic Games, and remain the only African team to have achieved that distinction in either competition.

With only days remaining before their opening match, the Nigerian players will now concentrate on their final training sessions and tactical work. The coaching staff will use the remaining time to sharpen the team’s plans for Group B, while supporters in Nigeria will be hoping the African champions can make a positive start and advance deep into the knockout stages.

The arrival in Berlin completes a lengthy preparation journey for the squad. Having travelled through several countries during their build-up, D’Tigress are now settled at the tournament venue and ready to represent Nigeria on one of basketball’s biggest stages.