Following their sterling display at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying tournament in Belgrade, Nigeria’s national female basketball team D’Tigress has been ranked among the top 10 teams in the world according to the second volume of Power Rankings for women released yesterday by FIBA.
With the lineup for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 now known, the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Power Rankings are put together by panel, led by FIBA’s women’s basketball specialist Paul Nilsen.
Taking on board the first volume of the Power Rankings which were drawn up before the recent World Cup Qualifying Tournaments, plus subsequent results, performances and significant absences from rosters, United States led the ranking.
In the FIBA World Ranking, D’Tigress is rated 15th but their performance in Belgrade where they humbled fifth ranked France pushed their rating to 10th in the Power Ranking.
According to FIBA, Victoria Macaulay was a pillar of strength during the landmark win against France.
“What a roller-coaster! It looked potentially mission impossible due to no preparation whatsoever, players absent (including Ezinne Kalu their main playmaker), players arriving late and then a one-sided opening day loss to China. But with head coach Otis Hughley Jnr, they have such an inspirational and impressive coach.
“ Within 24 hours they were making global headlines. Not only did they collect a first ever win against France, they did it by coming back from a 20-point deficit. Victoria Macaulay was on a serious mission and a standout team MVP. It was amazing stuff,” FIBA posited.
Then added: They then led Mali by 21 points in the last group game (a must win game) but came close to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, with their opponents making it a one-shot game inside the last minute. Nigeria clung on and it showed that they still have a lot of work to do, but have incredible strength in adversity. The competition also allowed players like Promise Amukamara and Amy Okonkwo to show what they can do at this level with more court time.”
Nigeria is the only African team listed in the top 12 Power Ranking which has China and Japan as the second and third best teams in the world.