Nigeria’s D’Tigress have vowed to bounce back when they face Hungary on Saturday (today) after suffering a 99-81 defeat to South Korea in their opening game of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The African champions kept the contest close for three quarters before South Korea pulled away with a decisive fourth-quarter surge, built on efficient ball movement and sharp shooting from beyond the arc.
Captain Amy Okonkwo led Nigeria with 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Murjanatu Musa recorded a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Ezinne Kalu added 11 points and a team-high five assists, with Victoria Macaulay contributing 10 points off the bench. South Korea were led by Jihyun Park, who scored 27 points.
Okonkwo admitted South Korea’s efficiency proved difficult to contain.
“Today was a tough game. South Korea is a really good team. They move the ball a lot, they shoot a lot, and today we just weren’t able to stop them in that regard,” she said.
