Ahmedu, Amachree, Udoka rally D’Tigress ahead of 2026 World Cup
FIBA Africa Zone 3 president Sam Ahmedu, former D’Tigress stars Mfon Udoka and Mactabene Amachree have rallied Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team ahead of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany, Made In Africa Sport reports.
According to a statement by Maxwell Kumoye of the Nigeria Basketball Network (NBN), Ahmedu urged D’Tigress to represent Nigeria with pride and determination as they begin their latest quest for global success.
Ahmedu, a member of the FIBA Africa executive committee and a board member of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), called on the players to draw inspiration from the fighting spirit that has established D’Tigress as the dominant force in African women’s basketball.
Nigeria are the reigning African champions after winning the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, their seventh continental title.
D’Tigress have also established themselves as a force on the global stage, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Tenerife, Spain.
They defeated Turkey and Greece during that campaign before losing to eventual champions, the United States.
Nigeria then reached the quarter-finals of the women’s basketball tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, another landmark achievement for the team.
Udoka and Amachree have also sent messages of support to the squad ahead of the World Cup.
The former D’Tigress players were members of Nigeria’s African Championship-winning teams in 2003 and 2005 before later contributing to the rebuilding of the national team that reclaimed continental supremacy in 2017.
Udoka served as general manager while Amachree was player development manager during D’Tigress’ 2017 AfroBasket-winning campaign under coach Sam Vincent.
Otis Hughley Jr. subsequently led the team at the 2018 World Cup, 2019 AfroBasket and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, before Rena Wakama took charge in 2023.
Wakama has since guided D’Tigress to further success, including their latest African title in 2025.
The current squad also boasts considerable international experience, with Ezinne Kalu and Promise Amukamara among the players who have been part of the national set-up since the 2016 Olympic qualifying tournament in Nantes.
Amy Okonkwo, Elizabeth Balogun, Victoria Macaulay and Murjanatu Musa are also part of the group heading into the World Cup.
Ahmedu, Udoka and Amachree have now urged the players to embrace the occasion, build on the achievements of previous generations and continue to make Nigeria and Africa proud at the global tournament.