D’Tigress Face Coaching Concern as Wakama Remains Away Before World Cup

Posted : 25 August 2026

Nigeria’s D’Tigress face a crucial final phase of their preparations for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup with head coach Rena Wakama yet to rejoin the team. Wakama has remained in the United States because of her professional commitments with the Chicago Sky, where she serves as an assistant coach.

The Nigerian team have continued their preparations in Spain as they approach the tournament in Berlin. D’Tigress completed the Tenerife phase of their camp on August 24 and are expected to move to Zaragoza for further preparation games before travelling to Germany.

Wakama has been an important figure in Nigeria’s recent success. She guided D’Tigress to the 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title and helped the team maintain its position among Africa’s leading women’s basketball sides. Her return will therefore be important as the team enters the final stage of preparations.

Nigeria’s recent results have added to the pressure. D’Tigress suffered an 83-58 defeat to Spain in Tenerife on August 21 before losing 90-55 to Belgium the following day. The Belgian Basketball Federation reported that Emma Meesseman led all scorers with 20 points and added seven rebounds, while Belgium recorded 36 assists and made 12 three-pointers.

The two losses came after Nigeria recorded one victory in a three-game exhibition series against China. D’Tigress lost the first two games 70-67 and 69-65 before responding with an 88-77 victory in Foshan on August 12.

That leaves Nigeria with one win and four defeats in their last five completed preparation matches. The results highlight the need for greater defensive discipline and offensive consistency before the competitive games begin.

The World Cup will take place in Berlin from September 4 to 13, with 16 teams competing for the global title. Nigeria are drawn in Group B alongside France, South Korea and Hungary.

D’Tigress will open their campaign against South Korea on September 4 at the Max-Schmeling-Halle. They will then face Hungary on September 5 before completing the group phase against France on September 7.

The group presents a demanding challenge for the African champions. France are among the leading teams in the competition, while South Korea and Hungary will also provide strong tests.

Nigeria’s immediate priority is to use the remaining preparation period to correct the problems exposed in Tenerife. Wakama’s return and the team’s ability to quickly translate their preparation work into a clear tactical plan could prove vital when D’Tigress begin their World Cup campaign.

D’Tigress Face Coaching Concern as Wakama Remains Away Before World Cup

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