The Junior D’Tigress, Nigeria’s U19 basketball team, has been officially knocked out of the title competition at the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup taking place in Brno, Czech Republic.
They will now participate in the classification round for 9th to 12th places, which begins on Friday, July 18, according to reports.
Nigeria made headlines in Group B with a landmark victory, achieving their first-ever win in U19 Women’s World Cup history with a score of 93–88 against China.
Nora Ezike stood out with 25 points, supported by commendable performances from Idubamo Beggi, Tobenna Nweke, and Jessica Ajayi. This triumph marked a significant achievement for women’s basketball in Nigeria.
The subsequent games proved more challenging, as the team suffered defeats against Canada (42–113) and Portugal (61–79). Although these losses highlighted some of the team’s inexperience, they provided essential learning opportunities for the young players.
Nigeria concluded their journey in Group B by securing third place, which led them to a match against Hungary in the Round of 16, where they suffered a defeat with a score of 50–77.
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Next, the Junior D’Tigress will focus on a classification game against Argentina, scheduled for Friday, July 18, 2025, at 15:00 WAT (16:00 local time, GMT+2). Argentina, having lost all three of their Group D matches, is also eager to finish the tournament on a positive note.
A win for Nigeria would pave the way for a final game in the 9–12 bracket against either Brazil or Korea.
This matchup is not just about rankings; it presents an opportunity for the team to develop, build momentum, and conclude their remarkable debut with another victory on the global stage.
From their impressive opening win against China to competing with some of the strongest teams in the tournament, the Junior D’Tigress have already left their mark.
As they gear up to take on Argentina, they have one final opportunity to demonstrate the resilience and potential that has characterized their campaign in Brno.