Kalu braces for final China test ahead W’Cup
D’Tigress guard Ezinne Kalu discusses Nigeria’s final warm-up game against China, crucial for correcting mistakes before the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball W Read More: https://punchng.com/kalu-braces-for-final-china-test-ahead-wcup/
Nigeria's star defender Ezinne Kalu anticipates a crucial final warm-up match against China ahead of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. The reigning African champions suffered narrow 69-65 and 70-67 defeats in their first two encounters with the Asian champions, prompting Kalu to express anxiety about rectifying their shortcomings in the upcoming third game scheduled for Wednesday in Foshan, Guangdong Province.
The D’Tigress, led by Kalu, who contributed 13 points in the second loss, are determined to capitalize on the final opportunity to fine-tune their performance. Despite leading significant portions of the second game, China mounted a late comeback, ultimately securing a narrow victory. The first half featured 11 lead changes, with Nigeria's defense holding firm until halftime, tying the score at 33-33.
In the final quarter, China's Tang Ziting and Wang Siyu secured crucial points, including a three-pointer and four free throws, respectively, in a hard-fought contest. The final match against China will provide the Nigerian team with an additional platform to assess their readiness for the World Cup, following a series of preparatory games in the United States, China, and Spain.
Written by urgent.news from Punch's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
