Nigeria’s junior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress U19, opened their 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup campaign with a landmark 93-88 win over China in Czechia on Saturday.
The team battled back from a first-quarter deficit to claim their first-ever victory at the global tournament, overcoming the odds as pre-tournament underdogs.
China dominated early, taking the first quarter 24-16. But Nigeria fought back, narrowing the gap to 44-38 by halftime after edging the second quarter 22-20.
The game turned in the third quarter as Nigeria outscored China 23-16, shifting momentum before sealing the win with a thrilling 32-28 fourth-quarter push.
A standout Nigerian debutant delivered a flawless 8-for-8 shooting performance, finishing with 25 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
The win echoes the success of the senior D’Tigress squad, who made history at Paris 2024 by becoming the first African team to reach the Olympic Quarter-Finals.