Junior D’Tigress make big leap in latest FIBA world rankings
Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress have climbed nine places in the FIBA World Ranking Girls, now sitting at 26th globally. The team is now the fourth biggest mover worldwide and the highest-ranked nation to make such a jump within the top 30. Their rise follows a strong showing at the FIBA U-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Czechia, led by Juliana Akhere. Key players like Wandoo Hembam, Nora Ezike, and Haminatu Ayodeji stood out during the tournament, which concluded in July 2025.
Match highlights
- Junior D’Tigress rose nine spots to 26th in the FIBA World Ranking Girls as of July 2025.
- The team is now third in Africa, behind Mali (16th) and Egypt (21st).
- Their performance at the FIBA U-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup included a 12th-place finish and a win over Argentina.
- Wandoo Hembam led the team in scoring with 19 points in a close 85–79 loss to Korea.
- The squad’s progress highlights growing depth and renewed competitiveness in Nigerian women’s youth basketball.
