The Belgian Cats cruised to a 90-55 victory over Nigeria in a pre-World Cup basketball international match played on Saturday evening in Tenerife, Canary Islands. According to reports from regional media, head coach Mike Thibault’s squad used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from the eighth-ranked team in the world during their week-long training camp.
Playing in front of international onlookers at the Tenerife tournament, the fifth-ranked Belgian side established an early cushion before breaking the game wide open after halftime. The performance offered a clear look at how the European champions are shaping their roster ahead of upcoming global competition.
A Tight First Half Before the Break
The match began with a competitive opening quarter as the Belgian starting lineup—featuring Julie Vanloo, Nastja Claessens, Maxuella Lisowa, Emma Meesseman, and Bethy Mununga—worked to find its rhythm against physical Nigerian defense. Reports detailed that the Belgians pushed ahead from a narrow 12-10 scoreline to lead 24-14 after the first ten minutes.
Nigeria fought back strongly before the intermission. Leveraging an advantage on the boards where they collected 19 rebounds to Belgium’s 15 in the first half, the African side trimmed a 16-point deficit down to just six points. The scoreboard read 39-33 in favor of the Belgian Cats at the half-time break, keeping the contest within reach.
The Decisive Third-Quarter Surge
Sources on the ground noted that the Belgian Cats quickly reasserted control after the score hit 41-38 early in the third quarter.
Displaying sharp perimeter shooting and fluid ball movement, the European side put together a staggering 30-6 scoring run over the course of the period. Match statistics indicate that Belgium shot 12-for-18 from the field in the third quarter alone—including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc—while dishing out 13 assists. That explosive sequence ballooned the lead to 71-44 heading into the final frame.
Roster Depth and Final Statistics
With the outcome firmly decided, the final ten minutes allowed the coaching staff to cycle through the bench for a comprehensive review of the squad. According to detailed post-match data, the Belgian Cats finished shooting 31-for-62 overall from the field, converted 12 of 30 attempts from three-point range, and sank 16 of 19 free throws.
Ball distribution stood out as a primary catalyst for the victory, with the team recording 36 assists against 14 turnovers. Both teams fought to a standstill on the glass, each grabbing 35 rebounds.
The squad in Tenerife continues its preparations without three key contributors currently competing in the WNBA: Julie Allemand of the Toronto Tempo, Antonia Delaere of the Minnesota Lynx, and Kyara Linskens of the Phoenix Mercury.
Next Steps on the Road to Berlin
The Belgian Cats return to the hardwood on Sunday evening in Tenerife to face sixth-ranked Spain in their next international test.
Following their return home, the team is scheduled for a double-header against Japan in Ostende on August 28 at 20:30 local time and August 30 at 18:15 local time. Those fixtures will serve as the final tune-ups before the squad departs for Berlin, Germany, to open their campaign at the upcoming FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup beginning on September 4.
