Nigeria’s under-19 women’s basketball team, popularly known as the Junior D’Tigress, has achieved a remarkable ascent in the latest FIBA World Ranking Girls, surging nine positions to secure the 26th spot globally. The updated standings, released on Thursday, December 18, 2025, identify Nigeria as the fourth-highest climber on the world stage and the most improved nation among the top 30 teams.
This development underscores a period of significant growth for Nigerian youth basketball following their competitive displays at international fixtures.
The Junior D’Tigress currently hold the third-place position within the African continent, amassing 469.5 ranking points to trail only Mali (16th) and Egypt (21st). At the global summit, the United States continues its unchallenged dominance with 787.3 points, followed by Spain and Canada.
The American squad recently cemented its leadership by securing a fourth consecutive gold medal at the FIBA U-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Brno, Czechia. Other major movements within the top tier include Australia’s rise to fourth place and notable gains for Slovenia, Italy, and Poland.
Nigeria’s upward trajectory stems from a gritty performance at the U-19 World Cup in Czechia, where the Juliana Akhere-led team finished 12th out of 16 nations. The squad earned a vital classification victory over Argentina and displayed tactical resilience in a narrow 85–79 loss to South Korea. Captain Wandoo Hembam led the offensive effort with 19 points in the final stages, while Nora Ezike and Haminatu Ayodeji also delivered standout performances throughout the tournament.
This ranking boost reflects FIBA’s weighted cycle of international results and highlights Nigeria’s renewed status as a formidable contender in junior women’s basketball.
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