Nigeria’s dream of reaching the knockout stage of the 2025 FIBA U-19 Women’s World Cup, holding in Brno, Czech Republic is fading away.
Nigeria’s J’Tigress who fell to world number 3, Canada in a 113-42 blowout on MatchDay 2, were once again totally outclassed and humbled in a tough Group B. This time it came from the hands of free-scoring ladies from Lisbon, who sealed the win with an 18 point margin.
The Portuguese wasted no time in showing their intent taking it 17-13 in the first quarter, then added a 19-14 second quarter showing to the scoreboard.
After returning from the interval, it was all level 18-18 but any semblance of revival quickly disappeared into thin air in the fourth quarter as the J’Tigress were battered worst in the final 10 minutes, 16-25.
It wasn’t all gloom for Africa’s sole representative at the event after the absence of continental champions, Mali. Ranked 16th among countries of the same number, Nigeria’s J’Tigress experienced the perfect start to their campaign, taking down 7th seed China, 93-88.
The Chinese who have struggled without their superstar baller Zhang Ziyu, who has been promoted to FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 became the whipping-baby of the group, with 3 straight loss.
China looking lost without Zhang Ziyu has made for tough viewing. It’s hard not to feel their pain. It’s such a struggle right now the East Asians as they adjust to being without last year’s FIBA U-18 Women’s Asia Cup MVP.
Their towering colossus was the heartbeat of their team last year and without her, they’re flat-lining. Losses to first-timers Nigeria, Portugal and Canada have hit hard.
Nigeria will now face Hungary who also finished 2nd in the Group A, in a round-robbin, round of 16.
Nigeria were led by Nora Ezike in a dream debut for her country as they beat China. Portugal had the super Clara Silva to thank as they swept past China too, bouncing back from their first day humbling by Canada.
It might have been around 30c and sunny outside the Arena in Brno, but it has been raining from long-range inside with some brilliant three-point shooting displays from multiple teams across both game days, with Canada dropping 20 triples against Nigeria.
It was also Canada who took the crown in this category with a historic showing as they became the first team in U-19 history (women or men) to ever convert 20 triples in a game. Their shooting against Nigeria was just awesome.
Free-throws win games. But at this edition of the biennial championships, no fewer than five different teams are all shooting in the 50-56 percent range and that may be a major downside along the tournament stretch if it doesn’t improve.
