Nigeria’s U-19 women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, will be looking to close out their group-stage campaign at the 2024 FIBA U-19 Women’s World Cup on a high note as they face Portugal today (Tuesday) in Brno, Czechia.
Led by head coach Juliana Akhere, the Nigerian side is making its debut appearance at the tournament and kicked off with a thrilling 93-88 upset over Asian giants China. However, their momentum was halted in their second outing, as they suffered a heavy 113-42 defeat at the hands of North American powerhouse, Canada.
The loss left Nigeria third in Group B with three points — the same as Portugal, who sit second with a superior points differential. China remains at the bottom of the table, yet to register a win.
As they prepare for a crucial clash against the Portuguese, Nigeria will once again rely on key players Nora Ezike, Idubamo Beggi, and captain Wandoo Hembam to rise to the occasion.
Ezike, who has committed to Stanford University, was the star performer in Nigeria’s victory over China, posting an efficient 25-point game on perfect shooting, along with six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. However, she struggled to replicate that form against Canada, finishing with only one point and nine rebounds.
Captain Wandoo Hembam remains a consistent force in the squad. She was Nigeria’s top performer in the Canada defeat, registering 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Her leadership and scoring ability will be pivotal in today’s encounter.
Portugal, meanwhile, will also be riding high after notching their historic first-ever win in the FIBA U-19 Women’s World Cup, defeating China 75-52. Clara Silva, a standout prospect and former Kentucky player bound for TCU, powered her side with a dominant double-double performance: 25 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Silva’s 12 successful field goals in the paint earned her a place in the tournament’s all-time top 10 for two-point field goals.
Rita Nazario also contributed 13 points for Portugal, who will be keen to build on their momentum. However, they too suffered a lopsided loss to Canada in their opening match, falling 88-49 — a vulnerability that Nigeria may seek to exploit.
The 16-nation tournament features a round-robin format in the group stage, with all teams progressing to the round of 16. There, they will face opponents from opposing groups, with winners moving on to the quarter-finals and losers competing in classification matches for places 9 through 16.
