The squad was welcomed at the airport by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, His Excellency Senator Ita Enang, alongside officials from the Nigerian diplomatic mission in Berlin. The warm reception marked the official start of the team’s final preparations on European soil for the global tournament.
The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup runs from 4 to 13 September across two venues in Berlin — the Berlin Arena and Max-Schmeling-Halle. Sixteen teams are competing in the expanded field, with the winners earning direct qualification for the women’s basketball tournament at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
D’Tigress, ranked eighth in the world, have been drawn in Group B alongside France, Hungary and the Republic of Korea. Their campaign begins on Friday, 4 September, when they face Korea at the Berlin Arena. Subsequent group matches against Hungary and France will follow in the opening week.
The Nigerian side arrive in Berlin as the dominant force in African women’s basketball. They claimed their latest continental title at the 2025 AfroBasket, continuing a remarkable run of success that has seen them establish themselves as consistent performers on the world stage. Head coach Rena Wakama has overseen an extensive preparation programme that included training camps and friendly matches across the United States, China and Spain.
The team’s presence in Berlin represents another significant milestone for Nigerian basketball. D’Tigress have previously reached the quarter-finals of both the World Cup and the Olympic Games, remaining the only African side to achieve that feat in either competition.
With the tournament now just days away, the focus shifts to final training sessions and tactical preparation. Supporters back home will be hoping the African champions can make a strong start in Group B and progress deep into the knockout stages.
The arrival in Berlin completes a long and demanding journey for the squad, who now stand ready to represent Nigeria on one of basketball’s biggest stages.