…Bags Ticket to Final Phase in Berlin.
Current African and 8th ranked in the world senior women basketball champions, D’Tigress of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lyon, France lost to 12th ranked German Machines 73-81 in her final Group game but still got a booked ticket to play in the final phase in Germany next September.
The motivation by the Tinubu Government giving the Nigerian side a national honour, a house each in the Federal capital of Abuja and some dollars on the eve of the match did not obtain a win for the team that played 14-17 in the 1st quarter and 17-18 in the 2nd quarter going for half time with a score board of 31-35 in favor of Germany.
Before a crowd of 301 fans, Nigeria took the 3rd quarter 21-19 but lost the 4th quarter 21-27 to make final scores 73-81.
Nigeria lost in all departments of the game 14-18 points in over turns; still showed weakness in conceding 8-19 points at fast breaks; gave Germany 6-8 points at 2nd chance points; 28-34 at points on the paints; loosing in the area of their strength REBOUNDS 42-45 and in Assists 18-22 points.
Nigeria had on March 14 games created world cup record of 58 rebounds in any tournament in their match against Philippines but hardly had Nigeria popped up the wine that Canada equalled it hours later against Argentina.
Earlier in today, Tuesday debutante at the world cup, Philippines won their first world cup game beating Columbia 74-59 with scores at half time standing 33-40 in favor of Columbia.
It was14-14 in the 1st quarter; 19-26 in the 2nd quarter in favor of Columbia but Columbia slumped 7-18 in the 3rd quarter and crashed 12-23 in the 4th quarter.
Some few hours ago, Les Bleues of France tamed the Asian Tigress 89-62 with half time scores at 31-32 in favor of France.
France playing at home before a capacity crowd realised the importance of victory and chained South Korea 21-14 in the 3rd quarter before caging the Koreans 36-17 in the 4th quarter.
France topped the group winning all her 5 matches with 1000 PCT; Germany placed 2nd winning 4 of her 5 matches loosing a game with 800 PCT.
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South Korea placed 3rd winning 3 of her 5 matches loosing 2 with 600 PCT and Nigeria is 4th winning 2 of her 5 matches with 400 PCT.
Philippines braced to the 5th position with her lone victory today loosing 4 matches acquiring 200 PCT while Columbia lost all her 5 matches with 000 PCT.
Nigeria will be in Berlin for the final phase but without her 35 year old star player, Medical Doctor, mother and team motivator, Dr. Sarah Ogoke who announced her retirement before top Nigerian Sporting officials on Monday. Sarah who won her 5th African title for Nigeria, at the Afrobasket tournament in Ivory Coast last year with her two month breast feeding baby placed on the bench throughout the tournament was celebrated by all present including her colleagues.
16 teams will play 36 games in Berlin for 10 days 4th – 13th September 2026 to determine the new world champion.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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