D’Tigress Crash Out Of 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup After France Thrash South Korea

Nigeria’s D’Tigress have crashed out of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup after France’s convincing 95-69 victory over South Korea brought an end to the African champions’ hopes of advancing from Group B.

France maintained their perfect start to the competition with a second straight victory, having previously overcome Hungary. The result also proved decisive for Nigeria, who had been left needing favourable results elsewhere after suffering defeat to South Korea in their opening matches.

With France’s victory, D’Tigress can no longer finish among the teams advancing from the group, regardless of what happens when they face France in their final fixture.

Nigeria would still be unable to qualify even with a huge victory over the French side, as the head-to-head rule would work against them if teams finish level on points.

The early elimination represents a major disappointment for the African champions, who had arrived in Germany hoping to build on Nigeria’s growing reputation on the international stage.

Read Also: D’Tigress Lose to France in FIBA World Cup Qualifier.”

Under the competition format, the four group winners advance directly to the quarter-finals, while teams finishing second and third qualify for a single-elimination play-in round for the remaining last-eight places. The fourth-placed teams are eliminated at the group stage.

Nigeria’s exit means the team will not feature in the qualification round for the quarter-finals and will instead play France in their final group match.

The setback also ends D’Tigress’ hopes of matching or surpassing their best-ever World Cup performance, achieved in 2018 when they reached the quarter-finals in Tenerife, Spain.

The team had entered the 2026 tournament with renewed ambitions following their continued dominance of African women’s basketball, but their campaign has now come to an early end.

D’Tigress have since apologised to Nigerians for their disappointing performance and will look to finish the tournament on a positive note against France.

Coach Rena Wakama’s side will now have pride at stake in their final fixture as they seek to bow out of the competition with a strong performance.