D’Tigress Defeats Philippines 101-84 in Qualifier

D’Tigress of Nigeria triumphed over the Philippines with a score of 101-84 in a FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifier held in Villeurbanne, France. The African champions faced a challenging first half, trailing by as much as ten points.

The Philippines led for 22 minutes, but Nigeria executed a strong comeback, leveling the score at 67-67 late in the third quarter. Key performances included Palla Kunaiyi-Akpanah, who initiated the turnaround, and Ifunanya Okoro and Elizabeth Balogun, who contributed crucial points during a decisive stretch.

Victoria Macaulay had a standout performance with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two blocks in just 21 minutes. Murjanatu Musa recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Nicol Enabosi added 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The victory extended Nigeria’s winning streak to eight games, following a previous defeat to South Korea. Nigeria has already qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and will compete in the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket title, facing the host nation France in the upcoming tournament from March 11-17.