By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
World number three-ranked France defeated reigning African champions Nigeria 93–86 in a Group A encounter at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament, maintaining control from start to finish in a fiercely contested game.
The match was played on Sunday,15 March, 2026 at the Astroballe Arena in Villeurbanne, where the hosts asserted early dominance and sustained their lead throughout the encounter, despite a spirited comeback attempt by Nigeria, who are ranked eighth in the world.
France opened strongly and quickly established control of the game, dictating the tempo and building an early advantage.
Although Nigeria responded with improved intensity in the second quarter, the home side produced a decisive 9–0 run late in the period to extend the scoreline from 45–35 to 54–35, creating a gap that proved difficult to close.
However, Nigeria mounted a strong response spanning the end of the second quarter and the start of the third, going on a 12–0 run to reduce the deficit from 57–38 to 57–50, with Elizabeth Balogun leading the rally with five crucial points.
Despite the surge, France regained composure and controlled the decisive moments of the contest, ensuring Nigeria never took the lead at any point in the game.
The hosts built their largest advantage of 19 points twice in the second quarter, first at 54–35 and again at 57–38, underlining their dominance during the first half.
Statistics showed that France led for 39 minutes and 42 seconds of the game, while the contest was tied for only 18 seconds, with Nigeria failing to hold the lead at any stage.
Janelle Salaun delivered a standout performance for France, scoring 19 points and grabbing five rebounds while shooting six of nine from the field and four of seven from three-point range in nearly 30 minutes of action.
Valeriane Ayayi also made key contributions, finishing with 12 points and six rebounds, and recording a team-best plus-12 rating with solid performances at both ends of the court.
For Nigeria, Elizabeth Balogun led the scoring with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists in almost 35 minutes, providing the momentum during the team’s most productive spell of the game.
In the closing moments, France maintained composure and sealed the victory in the final 55 seconds, outscoring Nigeria 4–0 to prevent any late comeback.
During that stretch, France converted two baskets, secured rebounds and committed no turnovers, while Nigeria missed their only field-goal attempt and failed to convert two free throws.
The result ensured that France preserved their unbeaten run in the qualifying tournament, while Nigeria will look to bounce back in their next Group A fixture.
(NAN)
