D’Tigress get winning boost as China tour ends with 88-77 victory

Posted : 13 August 2026

Nigeria’s D’Tigress have wrapped up their intensive China tour on a positive note, defeating the host nation 88-77 in their final exhibition game in Foshan as preparations for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup gather momentum.

The victory gave the reigning African champions a timely confidence boost after a demanding series of high-level preparation games designed to test the team against different styles of basketball ahead of the global tournament in Berlin.

Elizabeth Balogun led Nigeria’s offensive charge with a team-high 26 points, while Grace Efosa added 19 points as D’Tigress produced a strong attacking performance to pull away from their Chinese opponents and secure an 11-point victory.

The result provided a strong finish to Nigeria’s engagement in Foshan and further demonstrated the importance of the team’s carefully structured preparation programme.

Before travelling to China, D’Tigress had already faced three WNBA teams during their tour of the United States — Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever — giving head coach Rena Wakama an opportunity to assess her squad against some of the best players and systems in the world.

The China assignment has now provided another layer to that preparation, allowing Wakama to continue experimenting with rotations while fine-tuning the team’s offensive execution and defensive organisation.

The challenge now is to convert those lessons into consistency when Nigeria take on the world’s best in Berlin.

D’Tigress have been drawn in Group B alongside France, South Korea and Hungary, with the eighth-ranked team in the world scheduled to begin its campaign against South Korea on September 4.

Nigeria will then face Hungary on September 5 before completing the group-stage schedule against France on September 7.

Having secured their World Cup ticket by successfully defending their FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title in 2025, D’Tigress now have their sights firmly set on making a strong impact on the global stage.

The team’s preparation will continue in Tenerife, Spain, where Nigeria are scheduled to participate in a triangular tournament alongside Spain and Belgium from August 21 to 23.

The Tenerife engagement is expected to provide Wakama and her players with another valuable opportunity to sharpen their tactics, strengthen team chemistry and build momentum before the World Cup tips off in Berlin.

D’Tigress get winning boost as China tour ends with 88-77 victory

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