Ezinne Kalu targets China win as D’Tigress prepare for World Cup

Posted : 12 August 2026

D’Tigress guard Ezinne Kalu is confident Nigeria can use their final warm-up against China to correct mistakes before the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. The reigning African champions have lost both games in their three-match series against the hosts.

China won the opening game 70-67 before claiming a 69-65 victory in the second meeting on Sunday. The third and final game is scheduled for Wednesday in Foshan, Guangdong Province.

Kalu led Nigeria with 13 points in the second defeat and believes the final meeting will offer another important test. She said the team is eager to make adjustments after falling short in the opening two games.

Nigeria controlled much of the second contest and held a 54-46 lead entering the final quarter. China responded strongly in the closing period and levelled the game at 54-54 after Tang Ziting hit the hosts' first three-pointer before another long-range basket.

China then took control through centre Zhang Ziyu and Wang Siyu. Zhang finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Wang converted four important free throws late in the game to help secure the victory.

The results have nevertheless given D’Tigress valuable preparation against a strong opponent. Nigeria are ranked eighth in the world and will face another demanding schedule before arriving in Germany for the World Cup.

Coach Rena Wakama's side will continue their preparations in Spain after the China series. Nigeria are scheduled to train and play in Tenerife from August 15 to 24 before moving to Zaragoza for their final preparation phase.

The Tenerife camp is expected to include games against Spain and Belgium. The team will then face Mali and Puerto Rico in Zaragoza as Wakama and her technical staff complete their final assessments.

Nigeria earned their World Cup place as the reigning FIBA Women's AfroBasket champions. The 2026 tournament will take place in Berlin from September 4 to 13 and will feature an expanded 16-team field.

D’Tigress have been drawn in Group B alongside Hungary, Korea and France. Their opening game is against Korea on September 4, followed by Hungary on September 6 and France on September 7.

The competition format makes every group game important. The group winners advance directly to the quarter-finals, while the second- and third-placed teams enter the qualification round for the last eight.

The final China test therefore gives D’Tigress another opportunity to sharpen their defence and late-game execution. Kalu and her teammates will hope to finish the series with a win before beginning the next stage of their World Cup build-up in Spain.

Ezinne Kalu targets China win as D’Tigress prepare for World Cup

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