D’Tigress captain Amy Okonkwo has declared that Nigeria will head to the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup with one clear objective—winning a medal.
The reigning African champions have intensified preparations for the global tournament, which will take place in Berlin, Germany, from September 4 to 13, with Nigeria drawn in a challenging Group B alongside France, Hungary and Korea.
Speaking as preparations gathered momentum, Okonkwo said the team has no intention of merely making up the numbers at the competition.
“We’re excited to represent Nigeria at another World Cup, but we’re not going there just to participate. Our target is to finish on the podium and win a medal for our country,” Okonkwo said.
The experienced forward expressed confidence in the quality within the D’Tigress squad, insisting the players are motivated to build on the team’s recent successes on the international stage.
“We know the challenge ahead of us, but we also know what we’re capable of. We have the talent, the experience and the belief to compete with the best teams in the world,” she added.
Nigeria heads into the tournament as one of Africa’s strongest representatives after qualifying as the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket champions, a feat that secured an automatic ticket to the expanded 16-team World Cup.
The team has also commenced an extensive pre-World Cup training programme, including training camps and international friendly games, as the coaching crew fine-tunes preparations ahead of the tournament.
With the countdown to Berlin underway, Okonkwo believes D’Tigress has the quality and determination to challenge the world’s elite and make history by delivering Nigeria’s first-ever podium finish at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
