The Nigeria women’s national basketball team, popularly known as D’Tigress, produced a stunning second-half comeback to defeat the Philippines women’s national basketball team 101–84 in their third game of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament.
Played at the Astroballe Arena in Lyon, the game saw Nigeria overturn a 51–42 halftime deficit, eventually outscoring the Philippines 59–33 in the second half.
The victory improved Nigeria’s record to 2–1 in Group A, keeping them firmly in contention for qualification.
Philippines Start Strong
The Philippines came out aggressively and controlled much of the first half.
Their quick offensive transitions and confident shooting allowed them to build a double-digit lead at one stage, frustrating the African champions.
By halftime, the Asian side held a nine-point advantage, threatening to hand Nigeria a second straight defeat following their loss to the South Korean women’s national basketball team.
Nigeria Explodes in the Third Quarter
The momentum changed dramatically after the break.
D’Tigress unleashed a devastating third-quarter run, scoring 34 points in the period and flipping the game completely.
What had been a nine-point deficit quickly became a commanding Nigerian lead as the team’s defensive intensity and fast-break offense overwhelmed the Philippines.
Enabosi and Musa Lead the Charge
Several Nigerian players delivered standout performances.
Forward Nicole Enabosi led the scoring with 15 points and 12 rebounds, recording an impressive double-double.
Center Murjanatu Musa produced one of the most complete performances of the tournament, finishing with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, narrowly missing a triple-double.
Meanwhile, Victoria Macaulay contributed 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, providing crucial scoring and playmaking as Nigeria pulled away.
Historic Scoring Performance
The victory also set a historic milestone for Nigeria.
D’Tigress’ 101 points marked the highest score the team has ever recorded in a FIBA World Cup qualifying match, surpassing their previous mark of 76 points.
It was also the first time Nigeria crossed the 100-point mark in a major international qualifier, highlighting the team’s growing offensive capability.
Wakama Praises Team Resilience
Head coach Rena Wakama praised the team’s response after falling behind early.
“We knew it would be tough, but the girls showed incredible resilience,” Wakama said.
“This is the kind of performance that builds champions.”
Next Test: France
D’Tigress will now prepare for a crucial matchup against the France women’s national basketball team, the tournament hosts.
France remains one of the strongest teams in the group and recently secured a 93–86 victory over Nigeria in another encounter during the qualifiers.
A win in the upcoming clash could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s path toward the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
For now, however, the comeback victory over the Philippines serves as a powerful reminder of why D’Tigress remains Africa’s dominant force in women’s basketball.
