Nigeria’s junior D’Tigress delivered a stunning upset on Saturday as they defeated Asian basketball giants China 93 to 88 in their opening Group B fixture at the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in Brno, Czechia.
Making their debut at the prestigious global tournament, the young Nigerian team, coached by Juliana Akhere, showed incredible resilience and composure to record their first ever win at the competition. It was a performance that mixed determination with raw talent, led by standout displays from Nora Ezike and captain Wandoo Hembam.
Despite a shaky start, which saw China take control with a dominant 24 to 16 first-quarter lead, Nigeria grew into the game. Idumabo Beggi had the honour of scoring Nigeria’s first ever points in the tournament’s history. The early stages saw China convert 10 of their 19 field goal attempts for a 52.6 percent success rate, while Nigeria managed five from 17, with a lower mark of 29.4 percent.
The tide began to shift in the second quarter as Nigeria responded by taking it 22 to 20. Though the Chinese still held a narrow advantage in shooting efficiency, the West Africans found their rhythm and were beginning to ask serious questions of their opponents.
By the third quarter, momentum was fully on Nigeria’s side. They took the period 23 to 16, and while both teams registered 19 field goal attempts, Nigeria’s defence tightened and their scoring improved. The field goal percentages remained close but Nigeria had edged ahead.
In a thrilling final quarter, Nigeria held their nerve. They made 10 of their 20 field goal attempts, compared to China’s eight from 18. Shooting accuracy was key as Nigeria posted a 50 percent success rate, outclassing China’s 44.4 percent and sealing a memorable 93 to 88 victory.
Nora Ezike was in imperious form, scoring 25 points in just 21 minutes. The Stanford University commit was flawless from the field and added six rebounds, two steals and a block to her tally. Idumabo Beggi was equally instrumental with 18 points, four rebounds and five assists.
Toby Nweke added 15 points to go with four rebounds, while Jessica Ajayi and Francisca Chukwu contributed 10 and seven points respectively, with Chukwu also hauling in 10 rebounds in a tireless effort under the basket.
The win sends a strong message to the rest of the field as Nigeria prepare to face Canada in their next match. The Canadians also got off to a strong start, dismantling Portugal 88 to 49. With both teams level on points, the upcoming clash could be decisive in determining who progresses to the knockout stage.
For junior D’Tigress, the victory over China is not just a win, it is a declaration. Nigeria has arrived on the world stage, and they are here to compete.
