Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, came from behind to defeat the Philippines 101-84 in a Group A match at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Villeurbanne, France.

The African champions overturned a double-digit first-half deficit at the Astroballe to claim a convincing win after a tightly contested game that saw 12 lead changes across the opening three quarters.

The Philippines controlled much of the first half and opened a 10-point lead in the second quarter, going ahead 35-25 and later 37-27. The Asian side spent more than 22 minutes in front during the game, while Nigeria led for about 15 minutes. The scores were level for just under three minutes.

Midway through the third quarter, the African side erased a five-point deficit with a 17-12 run. Forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah capped the surge with a turnaround jump shot that tied the score at 67-67 with just over three minutes left in the period.

Guards Ifunanya Okoro and Elizabeth Balogun combined for nine points during that stretch, while Promise Amukamara secured key rebounds as Nigeria moved ahead 70-67 heading into the final quarter.

The Philippines attempted to respond through outside shooting from Janine Pontejos and Louna Ozar, but Nigeria’s inside scoring proved decisive as they gradually pulled away.

Nigeria sealed the win with a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter between the sixth and fourth minutes. The burst turned a narrow 81-80 lead into a 90-80 advantage. Balogun scored 5 points during the sequence, shooting perfectly.

Centre Victoria Macaulay delivered a strong performance with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks in just over 21 minutes. She posted a +13 plus-minus rating during Nigeria’s second-half surge.

Forward Murjanatu Musa recorded 10 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, while Nicole Enabosi added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Enabosi also produced a nine-point burst in the opening quarter, helping keep Nigeria within reach early in the game.

Pontejos led the Philippines with 16 points, including an eight-point run late in the second quarter that helped extend their lead in the first half. Kacey Dela Rosa also contributed during a seven-point run late in the opening period.

Nigeria’s most effective lineup featured Ezinne Kalu, Amukamara, Macaulay, Balogun and Musa. The group spent nearly 16 minutes on the court together and recorded a +12 differential during key stages of the match.

It was reports that the win came after Nigeria’s eight-game winning streak in competitive matches ended with a 77-60 defeat to South Korea. That loss followed their opening 70-37 win over Colombia in the tournament.

Nigeria have already qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup after winning the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket title.

They will face hosts France on Sunday as the tournament, which runs from March 11 to 17, continues in Villeurbanne.

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The highly anticipated 2026 Finalissima between Spain and Argentina has been cancelled, UEFA confirmed in an official statement.

It was reports that the intercontinental clash, scheduled for March 28, was expected to pit the winners of UEFA Euro 2024, Spain, against Argentina, champions of the 2024 Copa América. The match had initially been planned for March 27 in Doha, the capital city of Qatar.

UEFA said the fixture could not go ahead because of the current political situation in the Middle East.

“Due to the current political situation in the region, the Finalissima, originally set to take place in Qatar on March 27th, cannot be held as scheduled,” the governing body said.

The organisation added that both teams were unable to compete for the trophy because of environmental and timing constraints, despite efforts to preserve the match.

The Finalissima is jointly organised by UEFA and CONMEBOL and brings together the champions of Europe and South America. The inaugural edition took place in 2022 at Wembley Stadium, where Argentina defeated Italy 3-0.

In a bid to salvage the 2026 showdown, UEFA explored several alternatives. One proposal involved keeping the original date but relocating the match to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid. The plan included a 50 per cent ticket allocation for each team’s supporters, but Argentina rejected the idea.

Another option suggested turning the Finalissima into a two-legged tie, with the first match in Madrid and the return leg in Buenos Aires at a later date. That proposal was also turned down.

UEFA further considered staging the match at a neutral European venue, either on March 27 or March 30. The proposal failed to secure agreement.

Argentina later suggested playing the fixture after the World Cup, but Spain’s schedule made that impossible.

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A former Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu has died, aged 62.

The death of the Imo State-born midfielder was announced on Saturday morning by former teammate and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner Segun Odegbami on his media platforms.

“Henry Nwosu passes on!,

“After five days in hospital battling for his life, the one I call ‘Youngest Millionaire’ passed on at 4:00 am this morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, where he had been in intensive care since Wednesday.

“It is with deep pain in my heart that I have to be the conveyor of the news of the death of Henry Nwosu MON. May he rest peacefully with our Creator in Heaven,” Odegbami wrote.

Nwosu, who was the youngest member of the 1980 AFCON squad, was widely celebrated for his role in Nigeria’s triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations, where the Green Eagles secured their first continental title on home soil.

The midfielder was known for his vision, creativity and technical ability, and went on to become a prominent figure in Nigerian domestic football.

Following his retirement from active football, the former international remained connected to the sport as a coach and mentor, helping to nurture younger players.

Nwosu’s death comes days after Nigerian football lost another iconic figure. Former Super Eagles coach Adegboye Onigbinde, who led Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea, died on March 9 at the age of 88.

Both Nwosu and Onigbinde were prominent members of the Green Eagles set-up of the 1980s, with Onigbinde having served as coach of the side between 1982 and 1984.

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