ON
← Back to feed
China eye D’Tigress clean sweep after second straight Pre-World Cup victory
NG⚽ Sports10 days ago

China eye D’Tigress clean sweep after second straight Pre-World Cup victory

China's women's basketball team, coached by Gong Luming, defeated Nigeria's D'Tigress 69-65 in their second pre-World Cup exhibition match in Haikou, aiming for a clean sweep in their three-game series. This follows China's earlier 70-67 win over D'Tigress in the first game. The match was closely contested, with Nigeria taking a 54-46 lead in the third quarter due to strong shooting, but China made a decisive comeback in the fourth quarter through efficient scoring and clutch free throws. Chinese player Zhang Ziyu stood out with a double-double of 23 points and 13 rebounds. Both teams are preparing for the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, with the final match scheduled for Foshan. Coach Gong emphasized the importance of facing experienced Nigerian players, many of whom participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics, as a valuable test for his younger squad.

China's women's basketball team has set its sights on a clean sweep over Nigeria's D’Tigress after securing a dramatic 69-65 victory in their second pre-World Cup exhibition match in Haikou on Sunday. The win marks the second consecutive triumph for China in the three-game series against the African champions, who had previously edged them narrowly in the opening game on Friday with a score of 70-67. The outcome positions China to complete a 3-0 sweep when the teams face off once more in Foshan on Wednesday. This series forms part of both nations' rigorous preparation for the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup, which will take place in Berlin from 4 to 13 September. Nigeria initially seemed poised to dominate the game, taking control in the third quarter with a flurry of five three-pointers that gave them a 54-46 lead. However, China mounted a resolute response in the final quarter. Tang Ziting opened the decisive period with a crucial three-pointer, followed by another long-range shot to tie the game at 54-54. Centre Zhang Ziyu then became a focal point inside the paint, while Wang Siyu maintained composure at the free-throw line, hitting four critical shots in the closing moments to seal the victory. Zhang Ziyu emerged as the standout player for China, delivering a double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Her performance marked a notable improvement from her previous game, where she had scored just six points in the first half. Tang Ziting contributed nine points, helping to bridge the gap created by Nigeria's early dominance. The first half was tightly contested, with both teams trading leads frequently. Eleven lead changes occurred during this period, ending with the score tied at 33-33 at halftime. Nigeria's physical defense kept the game close, but China struggled with ball control, committing 19 turnovers, five more than Nigeria. Despite this, they remained within striking distance before making their decisive push in the fourth quarter. China's head coach, Gong Luming, acknowledged the challenge posed by Nigeria's experienced squad, noting that seven of their players had participated in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. He emphasized the importance of these encounters for his younger team, stating that the games would help build chemistry and provide valuable experience against high-pressure defenses. "We improved our rebounding compared to the first game," Gong said, "but our turnovers were still high. We hope to address that in the next game." For Nigeria, the loss comes amid their ongoing "Road to Berlin" preparation program, which includes five stages of intense training and competition. After starting their preparations in the United States with exhibition games from 29 July to 2 August, the D’Tigress traveled to Haikou for the three-game series against China. Following the match in Foshan, Nigeria will relocate their training camp to Tenerife, Spain. They are scheduled to play additional preparatory matches against Spain and Belgium between 15 and 24 August. Subsequently, they will travel to Zaragoza for games against Mali and Puerto Rico from 25 August to 3 September before heading to Berlin for the World Cup. In the World Cup, Nigeria has been placed in Group B alongside South Korea, Hungary, and France. The team aims to leverage their demanding preparation schedule to ensure they are in optimal condition for the tournament. Their journey so far has included a challenging stretch in the U.S., where they faced tough competition, and now a formidable test against China. As the D’Tigress prepare for their next match against China, the focus remains on refining their strategies and ensuring they are ready for the high-stakes environment of international competition. With each game offering new insights and challenges, the team continues to work towards achieving their goals in Berlin.

Go to the primary sources (3)

The official sources this coverage is built on. Read them directly to bypass framing.

3 reports

Premium Times Nigeria logoPremium Times NigeriaIndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 8510 days ago
D’Tigress turn focus to Spain after China tour victory

Nigeria's senior women's basketball team, D'Tigress, secured an 88-77 victory over China in Foshan during their three-game tour, boosting their confidence ahead of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin. The win follows their preparation tour in the United States, where they played against WNBA teams. With the China tour completed, the team will now focus on Spain, where they will participate in a triangular tournament with Belgium from 21 to 23 August. This event aims to refine coaching strategies and team dynamics before the World Cup. Nigeria, ranked eighth globally, has been placed in Group B with France, South Korea, and Hungary, with their World Cup campaign starting on 4 September.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a sports event and does not involve politically charged topics such as government, elections, or public policy. It provides objective coverage of the team's performance and upcoming schedule without any apparent ideological framing.

Why factuality (90): This article provides detailed information about the game, including specific player contributions and the team's preparation timeline. It references the D’Tigress Facebook page for the final score, which corroborates the primary source. The mention of the U.S. tour and upcoming matches in Tenerife

Why objectivity (85): The article maintains a balanced tone, presenting the game results and team strategy without emotional language. It focuses on the team's performance and preparation without taking sides, though it highlights the coach's assessment opportunities, which is a reasonable analytical point.

The Punch logoThe PunchIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 8011 days ago
D’Tigress get 88-77 revenge over China

In a basketball match during their preparation for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, Nigeria's women's national team, known as the D'Tigress, defeated China 88-77 in Foshan, Guangdong Province. This victory marked a comeback after two previous losses to China in the same series. Nigeria dominated early in the game, taking a significant lead in both the first and second quarters. Despite a late attempt by China to close the gap, Nigeria maintained their advantage throughout the match. The win serves as a crucial step in the D'Tigress' training schedule, which includes upcoming matches in Spain and other international fixtures leading up to the World Cup in Berlin.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses solely on a sports event with no mention of political figures, policies, or contentious issues. It provides a straightforward account of the basketball match results and the team's training schedule without any apparent bias or slant.

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports the game result, scores, and context of Nigeria's (D’Tigress) victory over China. It mentions the location, date, and the significance of the win in avenging previous losses. The details about the team's preparation schedule align with the primary source document regar

Why objectivity (80): The tone remains neutral, focusing on the game outcome and team progress. There is no overt emotional language or clear editorializing. However, the article emphasizes the 'revenge' aspect, which could be seen as slightly biased toward Nigeria's perspective.

Premium Times Nigeria logoPremium Times NigeriaIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 8012 days ago
China eye D’Tigress clean sweep after second straight Pre-World Cup victory

China's women's basketball team, coached by Gong Luming, defeated Nigeria's D'Tigress 69-65 in their second pre-World Cup exhibition match in Haikou, aiming for a clean sweep in their three-game series. This follows China's earlier 70-67 win over D'Tigress in the first game. The match was closely contested, with Nigeria taking a 54-46 lead in the third quarter due to strong shooting, but China made a decisive comeback in the fourth quarter through efficient scoring and clutch free throws. Chinese player Zhang Ziyu stood out with a double-double of 23 points and 13 rebounds. Both teams are preparing for the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, with the final match scheduled for Foshan. Coach Gong emphasized the importance of facing experienced Nigerian players, many of whom participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics, as a valuable test for his younger squad.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses solely on a sports event, basketball exhibition matches, and provides a balanced account of the game's progression, results, and quotes from the coach. There is no political commentary, framing, or bias detectable in the content.

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports the outcome of the basketball match between China and Nigeria, citing specific scores, player performances, and game details. It references the FIBA Women’s World Cup as the upcoming event, aligning with the primary source document. The article provides context about t

Why objectivity (80): The tone remains neutral, focusing on the game outcomes and player contributions without overt bias. However, there is a slight emphasis on China's comeback and success, which could be seen as subtly favoring the Chinese team's narrative.

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories