The Nation Newspaper

Tag: D’Tigress

  • Rio 2016 Qualifier: D’Tigress depart to Cameroon for Nations Cup

    Rio 2016 Qualifier: D’Tigress depart to Cameroon for Nations Cup

    The female national basketball team, D’Tigress will today depart Abuja for Cameroon for the Rio 2016 Olympics qualifier.

    The team, which left Brazzaville  Sunday along with other Team Nigeria contingents after the close of Brazzaville 2015 having won silver, will slug it out against arch rival Angola who defeated them in the final of the just concluded AAG 2015 .

    Other countries in the group with Nigeria fighting for the only slot for the continent at the Olympics are: Algeria, Egypt, Senegal and Guinea.

    Coach Adewunmi  Aderemi who spoke to SportingLife at the Mayamaya International Airport in Congo before  Team Nigeria departed for Nigeria expressed optimism that the female basketball team will pick the Olympics ticket to join their male counterpart.

    Although Aderemi agreed it won’t be an easy task, he however expressed optimism that the girls are capable and they will put in extra effort to make it to Rio 2016.

    The qualifier starts on the 24th till the end of the month.

     

  • Ogoke, Ogunjimi praise dominant D’Tigress

    Ogoke, Ogunjimi praise dominant D’Tigress

    • As team targets Olympic Game ticket

    Sarah Ogoke and Helen Ogunjimi has praised the team performance that earned the D’Tigress the Afrobasket and the All Africa Games ticket after beating the Cote D’Ivoire in a two-legged game at the the Palais du Sport in Abidjan. The games ended 71-51 and 88-43 in favour of Nigeria.

    Ogoke, who plies her trade in Angola with Primeiro D’Agosto, said that winning both legs away from was ‘pretty interesting.’  She stated that the players knew that the game was going to be tough and trained hard to ensure they beat their host in their backyard.

    “I am so happy that we have qualified for the Afrobasket in Cameroun. We also knew that the games were going to be tough and we prepared well to put ourselves in a winning position. Happily, they emerged victorious and our aim now is to go to Cameroun and qualify for the Olympics” she added.

    Ogunjimi,who is the captain of the team, said the scoreline didn’t mean that the games were easy,but praised the team for working hard for the victories. “The team had great bonding and the result was the splendid performance in Cote D’Ivoire.

    She also said that apart from going to Cameroun to lift the trophy, the team would also ensure that it qualifies for next year’s Olympic in Rio, Brazil. “Now that we have qualified for the Afrobasket,our aim now is to book our place at the Olympics.”

    In the first game, which ended 71-51, Nigeria won the four quarters 17-8, 20-18, 18-13 and 16-12. In the second game, the D’Tigress was powered  to victory by Uju Ugoka’s 14 points, with Ogunjimi and Primeiro Agosto point guard, Sarah Ogoke adding 13 points each in an impressive display on the night that saw the D’Tigress claw past the female Elephants with ease.

    The Scott Nnaji led ladies took charge from the jump ball, taking a 10 points lead in the opening 10 minutes (25-15), then extended their lead to 47-27 at half time. In the third quarter, the Nigerians outscored their opponent 26-9 to pull up an unassailable 71-36 points lead going into the fourth quarter. Closing the deal with a 17-6 points scoreline in the final 10 minutes.

    First Bank Basketball club’s thrilling point guard,Atosu Upe and sparkling Ndidi Madu scored 12 points each.

    Nigeria has now booked a date with Angola, Senegal, Algeria, the qualifier from  FIBA Africa Zone 2 and yet to be named wild card entry in group B of the 2015 Afrobasket in Yaounde, Cameroun come September 22 to October 3 for a battle for a third African title and a ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.