By

Eniola Olatunji 

Nigeria's senior women Basketball team, D’Tigress on Wednesday in Villerbaune  France outdunked their Columbian counterparts, the Lionesses in a dominant first game of group D of the 2026 world cup tournament 70-37.

Nigeria was so dominant winning the 1st quarter 18-12 and the 2nd quarter  losing 16-17 with half time scores at 34-29 in favor of Nigeria.

Nigeria was so ruthless in the 2nd half covering every space and earning most of the points with a resounding 19-5 points in the 3rd quarter and closing the game with a "let's go home babes" 17-3 scores.

Columbia is regarded as a Basketball power having achieved 5th places in the last three consecutive games of 2021, 2023 and 2025. She's ranked 6th on the world.

Nigeria has never played Columbian women before but she won the Afro Basketball title 7 times jn 2003 and 2005 topping it with 5 consecutive continental victories in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025.

Nigeria has been to the world cup twice with a quarter final placing in 2018; gone to the Olympics thrice and at the All African Games she made 8 appearances winning Gold once, Silver twice and Bronze thrice.

With these performances, Nigeria will step into the court against Korea tomorrow Thursday at 2pm Nigerian time, play Philippines on Saturday at 2pm; face France on Sunday at 7pm and then take on Germany in the final Group D preliminary round on Tuesday 17th March at 5pm.

Nigeria's performance is regarded as unique despite continued protests that the officials of the Nigerian Basketball Federation should step down causing monumental distraction to the preparation of the African champions.

The Nigerian Sports Commission NSC that supervises the sporting Federations however ruled that Nigeria will follow the FIBA order that will make elections for new officials in October 2026.