Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have officially commenced preparations for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup with the opening of a training camp in the United States ahead of the global tournament in Berlin, Germany.
According to a statement released by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), the reigning FIBA Women’s AfroBasket champions began camping in Chicago, USA, on July 29, with the first phase of preparations scheduled to run until August 2.
Following the U.S. camp, the team will travel aboard the aircraft of NBBF partner, XEJet, to Haikou, China, where they will play three international friendly matches between August 3 and August 14 as part of their build-up to the World Cup.
D’Tigress will then continue their preparations in Tenerife, Spain, from August 15 to 24, where they are scheduled to face European heavyweights Spain and Belgium in high-profile warm-up fixtures.
The team, led by head coach Rena Wakama, will conclude their pre-World Cup programme in Zaragoza, Spain, with additional friendly matches against Mali and Puerto Rico before heading to Berlin for the tournament, which will take place from September 4 to 13, 2026.
D’Tigress head into the World Cup as one of Africa’s most successful basketball teams, having won a record five consecutive Women’s AfroBasket titles.
They also made history at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by becoming the first African national basketball team, men’s or women’s, to reach the quarter-finals of the Olympic basketball tournament.
NBBF President, Engr. (Dr.) Musa Kida, said the federation and its Technical Committee are committed to ensuring the team is fully prepared mentally, physically, and tactically for the World Cup challenge.
Kida also expressed appreciation to the federation’s partners, particularly XEJet, for providing seamless travel support to Nigeria’s national basketball teams throughout their international engagements.
