Head coach of Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, Rena Wakama, says she has pinpointed critical areas her side must improve on ahead of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin later this year.

 

Wakama made the remarks following her team’s performance at the just concluded World Cup qualifying tournament in Lyon, where D’Tigress suffered a narrow 81–73 defeat to Germany in their final game on Tuesday at the Villeurbanne Sports Arena.

 

The African champions ended the tournament with two wins and three close losses against South Korea, host France, and Germany, showcasing competitiveness despite the setbacks.

 

In the final game, Elizabeth Balogun led Nigeria’s scoring with 15 points, three rebounds, and one assist, while Mujarnatu Musa contributed 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists.

 

Veteran guard Sarah Ogoke also featured in her final appearance for the national team, delivering a memorable performance after announcing her retirement.

 

Reflecting on the tournament, Wakama expressed pride in her team’s efforts and highlighted the value of the experience in preparing for the main event in Berlin.

 

“We were competitive throughout the tournament and learnt together, especially from the matches we lost,” she said.

 

Looking ahead, the coach emphasized the need for better starts and improved decision-making in crucial moments.

 

“Going to the World Cup, we have to start games better and make better decisions on the court in critical moments. We will analyse the games more and focus on our energy,” she added.

 

Meanwhile, Victoria Macaulay earned recognition by making the tournament’s All-Star Top Five, alongside France’s Janelle Salaün and Marine Johannès, South Korea’s Leeseul Kang, and Germany’s Frieda Bühner.

 

Host France finished top of the standings with 10 points, followed by Germany with nine, while South Korea and Nigeria placed third and fourth with eight and seven points respectively.

 

With all qualification tournaments concluded, the 16 teams set for the World Cup include hosts Germany, Nigeria, Australia, the United States, Belgium, France, Spain, South Korea, China, Italy, Mali, Czechia, Turkey, Japan, Hungary, and Puerto Rico.

 

D’Tigress will now shift focus to fine-tuning preparations as they aim to make a strong impact on the global stage in Berlin.