. Minister Congratulates Team
. Kida Credits Success To Hard Work
. Igoche, Hails D’Tigress Over Defeat To Mali
Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, has congratulated the Nigerian national women basketball team, D’Tigress, for picking a ticket to the FIBA Women World Cup.
The ladies, who are three times Afrobasketball champions, beat their Malian opponents 73-69 on Sunday to qualify as Africa’s sole representatives.
They had earlier beaten the highly rated, world number five, France 67-65, after losing their opening game to China.
Dare praised the queens of the court for doing the nation proud and showing dogged determination in all their games.
24year old Nicole Enabosi emerged the team’s top performer with 11pts, 8 rebounds and 1 assist as the team clinched an automatic world cup ticket.
Promise Amukamara was the creative force with 8 assists and 10 points. Amy Okonkwo recorded 14pts while Atonye Nyingifa had 11pts.
Nigeria won two out of three matches played at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Engr Musa Kida has praised D’Tigress for sealing a place at the 2022 FIBA Women World Cup with another victory against Mali.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation President traced the team’s continued success to a long-term plan that started at the 2017 Afrobasket.
“We knew what we wanted and what we needed to do. In 2018 in Spain, they became the first team from Africa to win two games at the FIBA World Cup and also first out of Africa to advance to the quarter finals”.
“We are proud of what we have been able to achieve with this team and we are optimistic that the future can only be brighter with the young talents at our disposal.”
For Kida, the latest victory is another clarion call for all stakeholders to join hands in building a formidable basketball structure that can stand the test of time.
“We have the potential within and outside Nigeria to do more to develop basketball. We just have to come together and do what is best in the interest of the game”.
Similarly, factional president of NBBF, Igoche Mark, has showered encomiums on D’Tigress over their astounding performance in the defeat of Mali.
While saluting the African Champions, Mark said that the victory of the team means that ladies are destined to rule the world.
“Champions of Africa, you have done it again. Your victory against Mali was astounding. Your performance in this qualifier is a testament to the fact that you are destined to rule the world. Thank you ladies for putting the negative past behind you. Continue to excel as Champs!” Igoche praised.
The FIBA Women Basketball World Cup will take place on Sydney, Australia in September.
By JOE APU & ROMANUS UGWU
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