D’Tigress to Discover World Cup Opponents on April 21

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, will find out their group stage opponents for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournament on April 21.

The official draw ceremony is scheduled to take place in Berlin, Germany, where the 16 qualified teams will be placed into four groups. The seeding will be determined by the latest FIBA Women’s World Rankings, ensuring a balanced distribution of teams across the groups.

D’Tigress have been placed in Pot 2 alongside strong basketball nations such as China, Belgium, and Spain. This positioning means Nigeria could face any of the top-seeded teams once the draw is concluded, setting up potentially challenging fixtures as they aim to progress in the competition.

As part of their build-up to the tournament, the reigning African champions have already stepped up preparations with an intensive training tour in the United States. The team, under the guidance of head coach Rena Wakama, began the tour on Thursday as they look to sharpen their form ahead of the global event.

During the training camp, D’Tigress are expected to play a series of high-profile friendly matches against top WNBA sides, including the Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, and Indiana Fever. These games are expected to provide valuable exposure and test the squad against elite-level competition.

The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup is scheduled to take place from September 4 to September 13, bringing together some of the best teams from around the world.

For D’Tigress, the upcoming draw will mark a key moment in their journey, as they prepare to compete on the global stage and build on their growing reputation in international women’s basketball.