They won again despite Park Ji-soo's absence: "South Korea knows how to tackle the African champion"... Park Ji-hyun explodes for 27 points, crushing Nigeria by 18 points

*This content was translated by AI.

They won again even without key center Park Ji-soo (Cheongju KB). The South Korean women's basketball team once again dominated the "African champion" Nigeria, signaling a pleasant start to their campaign.

Coached by Park Soo-ho, the South Korean Yeo Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team secured a decisive 99-81 victory over Nigeria in the opening match of Group B at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, held on the 4th (Korea time) at Berlin Arena in Germany.

At the heart of the victory was Park Ji-hyun (LA Sparks), who plays in the US Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Park Ji-hyun led South Korea's offense with a team-high 27 points, including three 3-pointers.

Captain Kang Yi-seul (Woori Bank) also added 20 points by hitting six 3-pointers. Bolstered by the outstanding performances of these two players, South Korea showcased formidable firepower, pouring in 99 points—just one short of 100.

Opponent Nigeria is no easy team to face. They are the strongest team representing African women's basketball.

Nigeria claimed the FIBA Women's AfroBasket title last year, achieving a historic five-peat in tournament history. In AfroBasket, they have won 29 consecutive games, making them nearly unbeatable on the African continent.

But when facing South Korea, the story changes.

South Korea had already defeated Nigeria 77-60 in their previous matchup held in March.

FIBA also paid attention to that result ahead of this encounter. FIBA stated, "The previous victory will boost South Korea's confidence," and added, "South Korea can beat Nigeria on days when they play at their best."

They further predicted, "Perhaps South Korea already knows how to handle the African champion."

In fact, South Korea once again brought down Nigeria.

Until the end of the third quarter, the game remained tight with South Korea holding a narrow 68-62 lead. However, in the decisive fourth quarter, South Korea's offense exploded.

While Nigeria scored only 19 points, South Korea poured in an impressive 31 points, instantly sealing the outcome of the match.

Notably, Park Ji-hyun hit two 3-pointers alone in the fourth quarter, while Kang Yi-seul, Choi I-saem, and Lee So-hee (all from Busan BNK) also connected on outside shots, crushing Nigeria's hopes of a comeback.

This tournament features 16 teams divided into four groups of four for the group stage. The top team in each group advances directly to the quarterfinals, while second and third-place teams compete in play-in matches to reach the knockout stage.

By defeating their main rival Nigeria in their opening game, South Korea has taken a favorable position.

South Korea will face "championship favorite" France in their second group match on the 6th at 3:45 a.m., followed by a third-round clash against Hungary on the 7th at 9:30 p.m.

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*This content was translated by AI.