Nigeria U19 Women’s Basketball Team (Junior D’Tigress) Finishes 12th in U19 World Cup Debut

It was a proud and historic debut for the Nigeria U19 Women’s Basketball Team, named Junior D’Tigress, in its first appearance at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup, finishing 12th.

The tournament was held in Brno, Czech Republic, from July 12 to 20, 2025. It was Nigeria’s first appearance at this level and the young team impressed with their fighting spirit and two hard-fought wins. After losing to Hungary in the Round of 16, Nigeria bounced back in the Zone 9-16 Qualifier to defeat Argentina

68-58. Their first win was a thrilling 93-88 win over China in the opening match. In the win over Argentina, Wandu Mavis Hembaum and Nora Ezike

scored 17 points each. Haminatu Ayodeji came off the bench to contribute 11 points, while Abigail Isaac and Idubamo Beji added 8 points each. Nigeria came out strong in the third quarter and kept their composure in the final minutes to secure the win. Despite being the lowest ranked team in the tournament, Nigeria showed they can compete with the best. Their energy, effort and talent were noticeable throughout the match. In the 9-12th place match, Nigeria lost to South Korea

. Hembam scored 19 points, Ezike added 18 points, and Ayodeji had a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds. In their final match, the Round of 11, they faced China again, but ultimately lost 71-96. Despite this, several players still performed well: Beji scored 18 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, Ezike scored 12 points and 9 rebounds, Hembam scored 10 points, and Momoluwa Twogbade scored 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Although this young Nigerian team ultimately finished the tournament with a record of 2 wins and 5 losses, they still held their heads high. They showed courage, talent and a bright future for Nigerian women’s basketball.

Outstanding players like Hembam, Ezike, Beji and Twogbade gave fans a glimpse into the future of the national team. This World Cup journey is just the beginning. With the right support, training and international competition experience, these young women have the potential to become stars on the African and global stage.