Nigeria’s D’Tigress began their FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 campaign on a disappointing note, falling 81-99 to South Korea in their opening Group B encounter at the Berlin Arena, Trybal News reports.
The Nigerian side struggled to find an answer to South Korea’s impressive shooting from beyond the arc, with the Koreans draining 11 of their 28 three-point attempts. D’Tigress, meanwhile, managed just six successful shots from 20 attempts from downtown.
Leeseul Kang proved particularly influential from distance, knocking down six three-pointers, while Jiyun Park produced a game-high 27 points as South Korea maintained control of the contest.
Nigeria’s problems were compounded by a poor afternoon with the ball. D’Tigress committed 23 turnovers, more than twice South Korea’s 10, making it difficult for the African champions to establish any sustained rhythm or build momentum during their comeback attempts.
Amy Okonkwo was Nigeria’s standout offensive performer, leading her team with 20 points, while Murjanatu Musa provided a strong presence in the paint with a game-high 13 rebounds.
But despite the individual efforts, Nigeria could not overcome their defensive struggles on the perimeter and their costly turnovers, allowing South Korea to protect their advantage through the game.
Head coach Rena Wakama will now have to quickly regroup her team and address the shortcomings exposed in the opening fixture, with little room for another setback in the group stage.
D’Tigress return to action against Hungary on Saturday at 1:15 p.m, looking to put their opening-day disappointment behind them and revive their World Cup campaign.
