U19 women's basketball World Cup?
It was a night to forget for Nigeria’s U19 women’s basketball team as they suffered a crushing 113–42 defeat at the hands of a relentless Canadian side in their second group-stage match at the ongoing FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup.
The Canadian team, ranked among the tournament favorites, wasted no time in asserting their dominance.
By the end of the first quarter, they had opened up a commanding double-digit lead, and from that point forward, it was all one-way traffic.
With fluid ball movement, aggressive perimeter shooting, and a high-tempo offense, the Canadians tore through Nigeria’s defense, scoring at will and capitalizing on every turnover.
Nigeria, coming off an encouraging 93–88 win against China in their opening game, struggled to find any rhythm.
Their offense stalled early, with multiple possessions ending in rushed shots or forced passes that led to Canadian fast breaks.
The lack of composure and cohesion proved costly, as Canada went on a scoring rampage that left little doubt about the outcome by halftime.
Canada vs Nigeria under 19 women's basketball
The final score 113 to 42 was not just a margin of defeat but a statement about the gap in experience, preparation, and execution.
Canada’s press defense overwhelmed Nigeria’s ball handlers, forcing repeated turnovers that turned into easy points.
Every quarter widened the lead, with Canada putting up 30 or more points in two separate periods.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, there were moments of grit from Nigeria’s young squad. Jessica Ajayi, who had impressed in the first game, managed a few bright spots, including a pair of aggressive drives and solid free-throw shooting.
But individual effort couldn’t compensate for what was a collective collapse in both offense and defense.
This result sends Canada to the top of the group with a 2–0 record and strengthens their credentials as medal contenders.
For Nigeria, the loss is a brutal wake-up call. While their debut win against China sparked hope, Sunday’s game showed the immense challenge of competing at the highest level of youth basketball without consistent exposure to elite competition.
Head coach Nnenna Dike will have to go back to the drawing board quickly.
With one group-stage game remaining, the D’Tigress juniors must find a way to regroup, restore confidence, and focus on execution if they hope to progress to the knockout rounds.
Post a Comment