AFROBASKET: D’TIGRESS THROUGH TO FIBA WOMEN’s BASKETBALL WORLD CUP

Nigeria’s women basketball team D’Tigress has qualified to the FIBA Women Basketball World Cup following their win against Senegal in the semi-final en route to the final of the Women’s AfroBasket against Mali.

The Nigerian ladies are on the quest to win three consecutive African titles second since Senegal in the 70’s. D’Tigress had triumphed also in 2003 and 2005, before the 2017 and 2019 super performance in the continent. The current team sterling performance has come through their precision, fluency, progress play in attack and good guard work in the defense.

The coach Otis Hughley’s team having beaten Mali in the Afrobasket play-off in Bamako in 2011 with overpowering 71-62 will hope to lift the trophy considering the team’s effort and performance so far in the competition.

“I don’t want to use the word proud as you have introduced here. I would rather say that I am really humbled by what ladies have been able to achieve. It is impressive when you see the great effort they make on and off the court to stay at this level” Otis Hughley, who took over from Nigeria’s former coach Sam Vincent, said, according to Premium Times.

Meanwhile, Nigeria player Amy Okonkwo who has been outstanding in the tournament strongly desires the final turns to D’Tigress favour,

“I am happy to be a part of the team this time. It is one thing to watch these women play big games on the court but it is something very special to be a part of the team playing the final match on the court. I am excited and honoured too.”On the Malian ladies, they have been a high scoring side with an outstanding scoring side of average 75.8 points and they top the chart in rebounding with 54.5 boards per game according FIBA statistics. And a player to watch-out in the Malian team tonight is Mariam Coulibaly.