D’Tigress head coach, Rena Wakama has stated that her wards are calm and free from pressure ahead of their today’s quarter final tie with United States in the basketball event of the ongoing Paris 2024.
The African champions set up a crucial clash against the defending champions after placing third in Group B behind France and Australia despite winning two games in the group stage.
The Nigerian women’s side sent a warning signal to their potential opponents following their group wins against Australia and Canada who are ranked third and fifth in the group stage and Wakama in an interview affirmed that D’Tigress do not have anything to prove against the United States who are the favourites going into today’s quarter final duel.
Read Also:Tinubu salutes D’Tigress on Olympics feat
Wakama said she was happy with the defeat against France in their second group, adding the defeat kept them on their toes to go into the Canadian tie knowing that only a win would see them qualify to the last eight for the first time.
” I am glad we did have that loss because we were able to get back to what we do best,” Wakama said. “Also there’s no pressure now on us and we have shown everyone that we deserve to be playing here.”
D’Tigress are the first African basketball team either men’s or women’s to get to the quarter final of the Olympic Games and they will relish a top drawer fixture with the reigning Olympics champions.