D’Tigress Hammer Colombia 70-37 in FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in France

Duro Ikhazuagbe 

Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, kicked off their 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in Lyon-Villeurbanne, France, with aplomb as they hammered their Colombia ladies 70-37.

Today, the 2024 Olympic Games quarterfinalists will next take on Korea in what promises to be a tough duel, given the pedigree of the Asian team. Other teams in the Group A pairing include Philippines, host France and Germany.

In the clash with Colombia yesterday, D’Tigress under the watch of Coach Rena Wakama, put up a dominant display against the South Americans inside the Astroballe Arena.

D’Tigress won the first quarter with as much as six points (18-12) but lost but a point in the second quarter (16-17). In the third and fourth quarters, the Nigerian ladies completely dominated Colombia, winning the rounds 19-5 and 17-3. Their opponents were limited to just eight points in the last two quarters where Nigeria posted 37.

The star performer of the day was however Victoria Macaulay who was voted the Most Valuable Player of the fixture. She scored 13pts, 6 rebounds and 1 assist to lead the seven-time Afrobasket champions to victory in their first fixture of the qualifiers in France.

In all, the win extends D’Tigress winning streak to six games.