African champions D’Tigress of Nigeria will face notable opponents in one of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments slated for France.
The Nigerian ladies are grouped alongside qualifying hosts France, World Cup hosts Germany, Philippines, Korea and Colombia.
This was after the draw conducted by German national team standout Marie Guelich and former French national team captain, Endy Miyem at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball in Mies, Switzerland.
According to the draw on Tuesday 7 October 2025, there will be four qualifying tournaments in France, Turkey, China and Puerto Rico from 11-17 March 2026.
24 nations split into 4 groups of 6 teams each will battle for 16 tickets to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Finals in Germany.
5-time consecutive champions of AfroBasket Nigeria alongside other 2025 continental queens Australia, Belgium, USA and hosts Germany are through to the main championship, but will still take part in the final qualifying tournaments.
The top three teams from each Qualifying Tournament will qualify for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, along with a Continental Cup winner.
In the tournament with the World Cup hosts, the top two teams will qualify alongside Germany and a Continental Cup winner.
The 16 team FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will run from 4-13 September 2026 at two venues in Berlin, Germany.
Complete Draw:Lyon-Villeurbanne, France – Colombia, Philippines, Germany, Korea, France and Nigeria.
San Juan, Puerto Rico – New Zealand, Puerto Rico, USA, Senegal, Italy and Spain.
Istanbul, Türkiye – Hungary, Türkiye, Argentina, Australia, Canada and Japan.
Wuhan, China – Mali, South Sudan, Brazil, Belgium, Czechia and China.
Reporting by Kelechi Bernard