Nigeria’s U-19 Women’s Basketball Team has departed Abuja for Brno, Czech Republic, ahead of their participation in the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup, which tips off on Friday, July 12.
Following several weeks of intensive training at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, the team is now set to test their mettle on the global stage, beginning with a challenging opening fixture against China on the tournament’s opening day.
Group Stage Challenge
Nigeria has been drawn in Group B, where they will face tough competition from China, Canada, and Portugal — all strong basketball nations with consistent youth development programs.
The full schedule for Nigeria’s group-stage games is as follows:
July 12: Nigeria 🇳🇬 vs China 🇨🇳
July 14: Nigeria 🇳🇬 vs Canada 🇨🇦
July 16: Nigeria 🇳🇬 vs Portugal 🇵🇹
The tournament features 16 teams, divided into four groups of four. Unlike some other formats, all 16 teams will progress to the knockout phase, where they will compete in a single-elimination bracket starting from the Round of 16.
Teams from Group A will cross over to face teams from Group B— where Nigeria is placed, while Group C will match up against teams from Group D, based on their group-stage rankings (1st vs 4th, 2nd vs 3rd, etc.).
A Platform for Emerging Stars
This year’s edition offers Nigeria a valuable opportunity to showcase its next generation of female basketball talent on a world platform. The tournament is widely regarded as a launching pad for future stars of the senior national team, D’Tigress, and many other top programs globally.
The Nigerian squad, composed of a mix of home-based and foreign-based players, has been rigorously prepared for the task ahead by the coaching staff, with an emphasis on defensive structure, transition play, and court discipline.
Nigeria’s Growing Presence in Youth Basketball
Nigeria continues to build a strong reputation in international youth basketball competitions, with recent performances earning respect across the continent and beyond. A solid showing in Czechia would further enhance that reputation and provide a boost to the country’s grassroots development programs.