Park Stars As Korea Beat Nigeria 77–60 In World Cup Qualifier
Korea Seize Momentum After Early Deficit
SOUTH Korea produced a commanding performance to defeat Nigeria 77–60 in a Group A clash at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament in Villeurbanne, France.
Nigeria started strongly and led 16–12 early in the first quarter, but the momentum quickly shifted as the Koreans mounted a decisive response. South Korea closed the quarter with a devastating 15–0 scoring run, forcing multiple turnovers and seizing a 17–16 lead following a three-pointer from Jihyun Park.
The burst of scoring proved pivotal, swinging the game firmly in Korea’s favour and setting the tone for the remainder of the contest.
Balanced Korean Attack
Park delivered an outstanding individual performance, finishing with 22 points, six rebounds and four assists while shooting efficiently from the field. She converted eight of her 13 attempts and knocked down three of five shots from beyond the arc.
Leeseul Kang provided strong offensive support with 20 points and three assists, while centre Jisu Park dominated the paint. She recorded a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, adding four assists and four blocks to anchor Korea’s defence.
Their combined efforts helped Korea stretch the lead into double digits midway through the second quarter.
Macaulay Leads Nigeria’s Effort
Nigeria’s main offensive threat came from Victoria Macaulay, who scored 22 points and grabbed six rebounds.
She spearheaded Nigeria’s best spell late in the second quarter, leading a 7–0 run that trimmed the deficit from 34–25 to 34–32. All seven points in that sequence came from the forward.
However, Nigeria struggled to maintain momentum as Korean defensive pressure forced turnovers and disrupted their offensive rhythm.
Korea Maintain Control
South Korea controlled the game for 31 minutes and 35 seconds, gradually extending their advantage as the match progressed.
By the fourth quarter, Korea had stretched their lead to as many as 19 points, sealing a comfortable victory.
The win strengthens Korea’s standing in Group A of the qualifying tournament, which features several teams competing for places in the global showpiece scheduled for 2026.
