D’Tigress of Nigeria defeats Columbia 70-37 in World Cup qualifiers

Victoria Macaulay delivered a standout performance to earn TCL Player of the Game honors as Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, defeated Colombia 70–37 in their opening match of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifiers on Wednesday at Astroballe Arena in Lyon, France

Macaulay came off the bench and scored 13 points in just 14 minutes, hitting 5-of-6 from the field and converting all three free throws. She also contributed six rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks, helping Nigeria secure a commanding 33-point victory.

D’Tigress dominated defensively, particularly in the second half, holding Colombia to only eight points. Nigeria started strong, leading 18–12 after the first quarter, while Colombia narrowly took the second quarter 17–16. However, Nigeria’s response after halftime was decisive, outscoring Colombia 19–5 in the third and 17–3 in the fourth quarter.

Nicole Enabosi recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Ifunanya Okoro added 10 points as D’Tigress showcased their depth and dominance.

Despite participating in the qualifiers, Nigeria had already secured a spot at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany after winning the 2025 AfroBasket championship.

D’Tigress will continue their campaign in Lyon with matches against South Korea, France, and Germany, aiming to improve their FIBA world ranking ahead of the World Cup.