July 12, (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress made a historic debut at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup with a thrilling 93–88 win over China in their Group B opener on Saturday in Brno, Czech Republic.
The landmark victory marks Nigeria’s first-ever triumph at the global youth tournament and signals the team’s serious intent in a group that also features Canada and Portugal.
Despite trailing 24–16 at the end of the first quarter, the young Nigerians, coached by Faustina Akhere Juliana, showed tactical maturity and relentless drive to overturn the deficit and secure a famous win.
Stanford University freshman, Nora Ezike, was the standout performer, racking up 25 points, including 16 in a blistering fourth quarter that helped Nigeria withstand China’s late push.
Ezike added six rebounds and two steals to her stat sheet, anchoring a spirited Nigerian offense that outpaced China when it mattered most.
She was ably supported by Idubamo Beg, who dropped 18 points, Tobenna Nweke with 15, and Jessica Ajayi, who contributed 10.
The team’s balanced scoring proved a nightmare for the Chinese defense, which struggled to contain Nigeria’s relentless attacks down the stretch.
The game was a rollercoaster of momentum swings. China established an early 11-point lead and looked in control after the first quarter. But Nigeria regrouped in the second, cutting the gap to 44–38 by halftime.
A strong third-quarter showing (23–16) saw Nigeria take the lead, and they held firm in the fourth, edging China 32–28 to seal the momentous result.
The win is not only a milestone for the team but also a major boost for basketball development in Nigeria, especially in youth categories blending homegrown talent with overseas-based prospects.
Marvis Hembam, a standout from Nigeria’s 2022 U18 AfroBasket squad, previously told FIBA that World Cup participation would be a game-changer for women’s basketball in the country.
The team’s preparation was backed by the National Sports Commission, which facilitated a training camp in Abuja and a pre-tournament friendly in Spain. These investments appear to be paying off early.
Nigeria next face Canada on Sunday and Portugal on Tuesday, as they look to ride the momentum and push for qualification from Group B.
The squad’s composition mirrors that of the senior D’Tigress, who in 2024 became the first African women’s basketball team to reach the Olympic quarter-finals.
Coach Juliana will be counting on continued discipline, energy, and tactical clarity as the Junior D’Tigress chase more history in the Czech Republic.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
