Nigeria have unveiled their roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, which begins today in Berlin, Germany.
Rena Wakama will coach the African champions through the competition, which runs from September 4 to 13. The team includes experienced internationals Amy Okonkwo, Ezinne Kalu, Promise Amukamara, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, Murjanatu Musa and Victoria Macaulay.
Elizabeth Balogun, Rita Igbokwe, Jordan Obi, Grace Efosa-Aguebor, Ifunanya Okoro, Nora Ezike, Nicole Enabosi, Uche Izoje, Maryam Dauda, Gabby White and Idubamo Beggi complete the tournament squad.
D’Tigress arrive in Berlin as five-time reigning African champions, having extended their control of the continent with another title at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket.
Their World Cup schedule begins against Korea today, followed by a meeting with Hungary tomorrow. Nigeria will round off their group-stage programme against France on September 7.
As the tournament gets underway, basketball officials and former Nigeria internationals have voiced their support for D’Tigress and encouraged the players to build on their recent achievements.
Col. Sam Ahmedu (Rtd.), president of FIBA Africa Zone 3 and a member of the Nigeria Basketball Federation board, urged the squad to take confidence from its record at major international tournaments as well as its sustained success in Africa.
Ahmedu highlighted Nigeria’s run to the 2018 World Cup quarter-finals in Spain and its appearance in the last eight at the Paris Olympics. He challenged the players to show the same competitive character that has helped the country claim seven African titles.
Former national captains and WNBA players Mfon Udoka and Mactabene Amachree also sent words of encouragement. The pair played key roles in Nigeria’s 2003 and 2005 Afrobasket triumphs and later served in managerial positions during the team’s revival in 2017, giving them confidence in the current group.
The campaign is built around an experienced nucleus, with established guards Ezinne Kalu and Promise Amukamara joined by Amy Okonkwo, Elizabeth Balogun, Victoria Macaulay and Murjanatu Musa under Wakama’s leadership. Stakeholders have called on the players to draw on that combined international experience as they seek another advance on the global stage.
