Nigeria’s D’Tigress have stepped up preparations for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup as the reigning African champions continue their intensive training programme in Tenerife, Spain.
The Nigerian women’s national basketball team arrived in Spain earlier this week for the third phase of their preparations, with head coach Rena Wakama and her players using the camp to sharpen their tactics, improve team chemistry and test themselves against some of the strongest teams they will face on the international stage.
The third phase of the preparation programme is scheduled to run until August 24, after which D’Tigress will move to Zaragoza for the final stage of their build up before travelling to Germany for the World Cup.
During their time in Tenerife, Nigeria are expected to play preparation games against hosts Spain and Belgium. The fixtures will provide Wakama with an opportunity to assess her players against high quality European opposition while also giving the coaching staff valuable information ahead of the tournament.
The decision to schedule difficult warm up matches underlines the seriousness of Nigeria’s preparations. Spain are among the established powers in women’s basketball, while Belgium have also developed into a highly competitive international side. Facing such opponents should give D’Tigress the kind of demanding tests required before the World Cup begins.
Nigeria’s preparation programme has already taken the team through several stages. D’Tigress began their build up in the United States, where they trained between July 29 and August 2, before travelling to China for another important phase of their preparations.
The team’s tour of China ended on a positive note after Nigeria defeated the hosts 88 to 77 in their third and final meeting in Foshan, Guangdong Province. The victory was particularly encouraging because it came after Nigeria had suffered defeats in their first two games against China.
China won the opening encounter 70 to 67 before recording another 69 to 65 victory in the second meeting. D’Tigress responded strongly in the final game, producing a dominant opening half and eventually securing an 11 point victory.
That comeback performance offered Wakama and her players an important confidence boost as they continue preparations for the biggest tournament on the international calendar.
The final phase of the team’s training programme will take place in Zaragoza from August 25 to September 3. Nigeria are scheduled to play additional tune up matches against Mali and Puerto Rico during that period before travelling to Berlin for the World Cup.
The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will take place in Germany from September 4 to 13, with Nigeria drawn in Group B alongside the Republic of Korea, Hungary and France. D’Tigress will begin their campaign against South Korea on September 4, face Hungary the following day and complete their group stage against France on September 7.
The group presents a significant challenge for the African champions, particularly with France expected to provide one of the toughest tests of the opening round. Nigeria will therefore need to be at their best from the beginning of the competition if they are to advance into the knockout stages.
D’Tigress head into the tournament with considerable confidence after another historic period for Nigerian women’s basketball.
Wakama’s team won their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title in 2025 after defeating Mali 78 to 64 in the final. The achievement further cemented Nigeria’s dominance on the African continent and earned the team a direct qualification ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
The team’s continental success followed an equally historic performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where D’Tigress became the first African basketball team to reach the Olympic quarter finals.
That achievement significantly raised expectations around the national team. Nigeria are no longer viewed simply as African contenders but as a side capable of challenging established basketball nations when properly prepared.
The World Cup will therefore offer another opportunity for D’Tigress to demonstrate how far women’s basketball in Nigeria has progressed.
Interestingly, Nigeria also participated in the World Cup qualifying tournament in Lyon Villeurbanne, France, despite already securing direct qualification through their AfroBasket triumph. The campaign proved difficult, with the team losing three of their five matches.
Those results could make the current preparation particularly important. Wakama will be looking to correct weaknesses exposed during previous competitive games while ensuring that the team’s strengths remain intact.
Nigeria’s defensive intensity, athleticism, physical strength and transition play have traditionally been among their biggest advantages. Maintaining those qualities while improving offensive efficiency and execution against top ranked opponents could be crucial to their World Cup ambitions.
The immediate focus, however, remains on Spain.
The matches against Spain and Belgium will give D’Tigress another opportunity to measure themselves against elite opposition, while the subsequent games against Mali and Puerto Rico will allow the coaching staff to make final adjustments before the World Cup begins.
After dominating Africa and making history at the Olympics, Nigeria’s next challenge is to translate that progress into success at the global level.
The journey officially begins in September, but the work required to make another historic statement is already well underway in Spain.
