President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engr. Ahmedu Musa Kida
has commended the Nigeria U18 Women Basketball team, the Junior D’Tigress, for securing qualification to the 2027 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in China.
Kida praised the Nigerian girls for their total commitment and resilience in their semi-final match against host nation Ivory Coast at the FIBA U19 AfroBasket. The hard-fought win earned them a World Cup ticket and also booked their spot in the tournament’s final against Mali on Sunday.
According to the NBBF President, the 53-50 victory over the Ivorians showed the true Nigerian spirit. He said the team’s determination despite playing away in front of a hostile crowd reflects the discipline and patriotism that Nigerian sports is known for.
Kida who is also the board chairman of NNPCL acknowledged the efforts of the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF for the success of the women’s basketball teams. He noted that the leadership and investment of the federation have contributed greatly to the growth of the game in the country.
“The Girls have done very well to secure their place at the Women’s World Cup in China next year which shows their commitment, patriotism and discipline,” Shaibu said. “Now that the World Cup ticket has been secured, I have no doubt that they can win the AfroBasket in Sunday’s final against Mali.”
With this qualification, the Junior D’Tigress will represent Nigeria at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in China. They join their senior counterparts who had earlier qualified for the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany slated for September 2026, marking a strong period for Nigerian women’s basketball.
