Nigeria's women's basketball team, the D'Tigress, suffered a narrow 93-86 defeat to France in their FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament clash in Villeurbanne on Sunday, as the hosts maintained their unbeaten run despite a spirited Nigerian comeback.
The African champions pushed the world number three French side throughout the contest but were unable to overturn an early deficit despite a determined second-half revival that briefly reduced the gap to just two points.
France dominated the first 10 minutes, shooting with impressive efficiency and capitalising on defensive rebounds to launch counter-attacks.
Nigeria struggled initially to convert from two-point range, shooting 44 per cent compared with France's 80 per cent accuracy in the early stages.
The disparity helped France surge into a 27-15 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The D'Tigress gradually settled into the game during the second quarter despite a disrupted rhythm caused by multiple fouls and free throws.
Veteran guard Ezinne Kalu sparked the Nigerian revival with a scoring burst that included eight points, helping the African champions claw back some momentum.
However, France continued to demonstrate clinical finishing from the perimeter, with Janelle Salaun and Gabby Williams proving particularly effective.
By half-time, the hosts had converted nine of their first 13 three-point attempts—an extraordinary 69 per cent success rate—carrying a comfortable 57-45 advantage into the break.
Nigeria responded strongly after half-time, with a brief 5-0 run early in the third quarter narrowing the gap to 57-50 and forcing France coach Jean-Aime Toupane to call a timeout.
The African champions' persistence paid off at the start of the final quarter when they closed the gap to just two points at 76-74, raising hopes of a dramatic turnaround.
France quickly regained breathing space after a key defensive play from Pauline Astier, whose interception created a scoring opportunity that restored a five-point lead at 79-74.
From that moment, the match evolved into an intense exchange of baskets as both teams traded scores in rapid succession.
Despite their resilience, the D'Tigress never managed to draw level or take the lead as France carefully protected their advantage.
The result continued France's long-standing dominance over Nigeria in World Cup qualifying encounters while confirming their status as tournament favourites.
The D'Tigress had already secured their World Cup berth after winning the 2025 Women's AfroBasket title, making their participation valuable preparation for the global championship.
Nigeria entered the clash with a mixed record, having begun with a 70-37 victory over Colombia before suffering a 77-60 loss to South Korea and rebounding to defeat the Philippines 101-84.
Sunday's narrow loss leaves Nigeria with a two-win, two-loss record. The African champions will conclude their campaign against tournament hosts Germany on Tuesday.
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