Tag: D’Tigress

President of Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida has lauded the brilliant performances of the D’Tigress at the Olympic Games in Paris.

He said he was elated with the quarter finals match against the world number one and the star studded United States of America’s  women’s team.

Kida was equally quick to commend the board members of the Nigeria Basketball Federation for their contributions towards the ever-rising standard of Basketball in the last seven years and the record-setting feats achieved so far by the NBBF.

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While thanking the Federal Government and the Sports Ministry, for their support to the team, he called on well-meaning Nigerians at home and in Diaspora to urge the federal government to celebrate the D’Tigress and award them national honours, for making Nigeria and indeed Africa, proud at all times.

• Nigeria lose 74-88 to USA

The D’Tigress bowed out of the Paris 2024  Women’s Basketball event but not without a fight as they lost  a closely fought encounter  74-88  to Team USA.

The coach Rena Wakama-led side  only on Sunday  became the first African side – male or female – to reach the quarter-finals of an Olympic Games after beating Canada in their final group game.

Last night, the Americans raced in front  in the first quarter with  26 to 19 points and followed up with an identical  26 points as against the D’Tigress  16 in a pulsating gritty encounter in the second quarter.

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Ezinne Kanu  and Murijanatu Musa  proved pivotal to Nigeria’s aspirations  yet the D’Tigress  were back on the back foot in the third  quarter  losing  15-24. 

Remarkably, the D’Tigress  showed  their  strength in depth  in the last quarter with an amazing  26 points as against America’s 12.

But  it was a case of too little, too late as the Americans  won the encounter  88-74.

 Defeat notwithstanding, the D’Tigress  can be proud of their achievement at this Paris 2024  Olympics  as they earned  huge salutation  for their gusty performance  against the Americans who progressed to the semi-finals. 

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. 

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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. 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s D’Tigress on their historic qualification for the quarter-finals of the women’s basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The team made history by becoming the first African team in basketball to reach the quarter-finals at the Olympics.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu commended the team for their remarkable display of resilience, teamwork, and diligence, which earned them this achievement.

He also praised the coach and managers for their dedication and dutifulness in guiding the team to this milestone.

The President urged the team to remain focused and strive for ultimate victory, assuring them of his support and that of the nation as they continue to fly the Nigerian flag at the global sports event.

“President Bola Tinubu warmly congratulates Nigeria’s D’Tigress on qualifying for the quarter-final of the women’s basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

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“D’Tigress will be the first African team in basketball to play in the quarter-finals at the Olympics.

“The President commends the team for their uncommon demonstration of resilience, teamwork, and diligence.

“President Tinubu also commends the coach and managers of the team for their dutifulness and dedication.

“The President enjoins the brave Tigress not to rest on their oars until the final victory is won.

“President Tinubu assures the team and the entire Nigerian contingent at the 2024 Olympics of his support as they fly the nation’s flag at the global sports event,” the statement said.

D’Tigress continued  their  historic trail and yesterday  became the first African team to make it beyond the Group phase at the Olympics.

Nigeria women’s basketball team have been hugging headlines at the Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 after they shot down Canada 79-70 to become the first ever African team (women or men) to take a ticket for the last eight.

Also winning two games for the first time at the Olympics, the manner of the victory was also impressive as they condemned winless Canada to an early trip home.

Nigeria gained the upper hand in the contest with a stunning 11-0 run to start the second half. It left Canada reeling and their opponents never recovered.

Ezinne Kalu registered 21 points, while Elizabeth Balogun chose a great time to have her best game in memory as she stepped up with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

Nigeria look like they could give absolutely anybody in the tournament a game right now. Their rugged defense was back after a lapse in their previous game against France. Physically they are a handful and anyone they come up against in the Quarter-Finals will have to play well to beat them. And that speaks volumes.

Canada simply didn’t have the firepower in this tournament to be successful and that was always the concern. In the end, it will be the margin and manner of this loss in particular that will feel uncomfortable for them and rub salt into the wounds of an early departure.

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Nigeria are now assured to take part in the quarter-finals of this 2024 Olympic tournament and will become the first team from Africa to reach that stage.

They have now won two of their three games in 2024 (v Australia and Canada), before this year, the teams from Africa tallied only one win in 37 games played in the Women’s tournament (already Nigeria, against South Korea in 2004).

Ezinne Kalu scored 21 points today, only Mfon Udoka (3 games in 2004) previously managed to score 20+ points with Nigeria in a game at the Olympics.

Promise Amukamara made five steals against Canada, the second-most for a player with a team from Africa in a game at the Olympics (Nigeria’s Maktabene Amachree, 6 v Greece in 2004).

Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has  extended  his heartfelt congratulations to the Nigerian female basketball team, D’Tigress, for their remarkable achievement at the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

In an extraordinary display of tenacity and resilience, D’Tigress made history by reaching the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games for the first time ever, after beating Canada 70-58.

The gallant girls became the first ever African team (Male or Female) to make qualify for the quarterfinals at the Olympics Games.

D’Tigress secured a thrilling victory over Canada, the fifth-ranked team in the world, to advance to the quarterfinals. Throughout the group stage, the team demonstrated exceptional performance by winning two out of three games. 

They achieved notable victories against Australia and Canada, and lost gallantly to the host nation, France, in a closely contested match.

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Enoh expressed immense pride in the team’s achievement, stating: “D’Tigress have made our nation proud with their remarkable performance. Their journey to the quarterfinals is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and unyielding spirit.”

He further added: “This victory is more than just a game; it represents the heart and determination of every player who has contributed to this achievement. D’Tigress have shown that with perseverance and teamwork, we can reach new heights. We are all incredibly proud of them and look forward to their continued success in the tournament.”

The D’Tigress, who have navigated numerous challenges and celebrated significant successes over the years, now stand poised to continue their impressive journey in the tournament.

Enoh concluded: “We salute the D’Tigress for their incredible accomplishment and wish them the very best as they advance to the next stage of the competition. Their success is a beacon of hope and a symbol of excellence for Nigerian sports.”

• After Nigeria lose to France

D’Tigress head coach, Rena Wakama has assured Nigerians that they would see an improved basketball side against Canada on Sunday in the deciding Paris 2024 Olympic Games last Group B encounter in Lille, France.

The Nigeria’s women’s Basketball team defeated Australia 75-62 points on Monday but they were second best against the hosts, France yesterday in a game they lost 75-54 points.

Yesterday, D’Tigress lost their second Group B game of the basketball event of the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games to the host, France in Lille yesterday.

France won the game with almost 20-points difference as Nigeria will now wait for their third outing against Canada on Sunday to fight for a spot in the next round.

D’Tigress started off well, fighting back from a huge deficit to finish the first quarter 24-20 in France’s favour.

After the second quarter, scoreline had gone up to 38-31 against Nigeria, and by the third quarter D’Tigress were trailing by 15 points as the score stood at 54-39.

Despite moments of brilliance by coach  Wakama’s girls, the French team were overpowering as they held on to their lead to win 75-54 the after the final quarter.

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Nevertheless, Wakama praised his players fighting power, grit and determination but thumbed up the French team that proved to be better throughout the game.

She tasked her players to move on from the loss to France and prepare for the last group game knowing that a win would be enough to take them to the quarter final of the competition.

 “Our team played with heart and determination, but today France executed their game plan more effectively. We’ll learn from this and come back stronger,” said Wakama.

Nigeria will face Canada who have been beaten twice already by France and Australia in Group B, on Sunday in Lille by 12:30pm West African Time.

D’Tigress are chasing to become the first African nation to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games barely a few days after becoming the first African women’s team to secure a group stage win at the Olympic Games.