Head coach of MFM Women’s Basketball Team, Ochuko Owolabi, has cautioned that expectations should be modest for Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team ahead of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament 2026, citing inadequate preparation as a major concern.
Nigeria’s women’s national team, Nigeria women’s national basketball team, will participate in the qualifying tournament scheduled to take place in France as part of preparations for the next Women’s World Cup.
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However, Owolabi believes the current level of preparation may make it difficult for the team to perform at its best.
“Without proper preparation, it will be difficult for the team to perform strongly,” Owolabi said.
The basketball coach explained that international competitions require teams to spend adequate time together in training camp in order to develop strong understanding and chemistry on the court.
“Basketball is a team sport that requires players to train together consistently,” he noted.
According to him, limited time spent together by players before major tournaments often affects team coordination and performance.
“If the players don’t have enough time to train and build chemistry, it becomes a big challenge during competitions,” he added.
Despite his concerns, Owolabi expressed hope that the team could still deliver a positive performance if the players adapt quickly and work hard during the competition.
“Of course I will be happy if the team performs well, but realistically expectations should be moderate,” he stated.
Nigeria has established itself as one of the dominant forces in African women’s basketball, winning multiple continental titles in recent years.
However, Owolabi insisted that sustained success at the global level requires consistent planning, proper camping and adequate preparation.
“Preparation is key if we want to compete with the best teams in the world,” he concluded.
