Tag: D’Tigress

Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has showered praises on the Nigerian Women’s basketball team, D’Tigress for their outstanding performance as Nigeria defeated Australia 75-62 in a thrilling encounter on Monday morning.

The win marked  Team Nigeria’s first win at this year’s Olympics taking place in Paris, France.

D’Tigress displayed remarkable character in their first match of the Olympic Games, taking down a basketball super-house and world number three nation to record a historic victory. 

The Opals of Australia, five-time Olympic medallists, couldn’t stop the brave Nigerian ladies. The first quarter ended 18-17, the second quarter ended 23-11, while the third and fourth quarters ended 10-19 and 24-15, respectively.

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Senator Enoh expressed his pride and excitement, stating: “This victory is not just a win; it is a monumental achievement. Our D’Tigress has shown the world what determination and teamwork can achieve. They have made every Nigerian proud, beating the number three nation in the world rankings.”

He added: “The resilience and spirit displayed by our women’s basketball team are a beacon of hope and inspiration for all athletes competing in Paris. Their performance is a shining example of the excellence we aspire to achieve across all sports.”

“The dedication and hard work of D’Tigress have paid off spectacularly,” Senator Enoh continued. “This victory will undoubtedly boost the morale of the entire Team Nigeria, and I am confident that it will lead to more successes in the days to come. Let us all rally behind our athletes as they continue to strive for greatness.”

D’Tigress have handed Nigeria its first WIN at the ongoing #Olympics, setting a positive tone for the rest of the games.

Nigeria’s Senior women’s national team’s skipper, Amy Okonkwo has credited the D’Tigress team work for their famous victory over Australia in their Paris 2024 Olympic Games basketball Group B opener in Lille yesterday.

The D’Tigress defeated the fifth ranked Australia by 75-62 points to secure their first group stage victory at the Olympics and also only their second win at the quadrennial competition following their other win at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games in the classification fixture against South Korea which ended 68-64 in D’Tigress’ favour.

Okonkwo who finished the game with Australia with 13 points told journalists that D’Tigress ability to stay together during adversities that they have faced was the major reason they won the game.

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“It feels so good. We stuck together and we came together in adversity. This is what it is all about – you fight,” Okonkwo said.

This is Nigeria’s only second win in the Women’s Olympic Basketball tournament, after their success 68-64 against South Korea in 2004 but it is however their first win in nine games in the preliminary round.

Ezinne Kalu’s 19 points, five rebound and , five assists became the first Nigerian player to register a 15/5/5 game in the Women’s Olympic Basketball tournament; she made four three –pointers-the most for a player with Nigeria in the competition.

D’Tigress will square up with Group B leaders and hosts, +France on Thursday in Lille in the second group game.

Nigeria’s women senior basketball team, D’Tigress has offered more clarifications on the reason why they were denied the chance to participate in the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games held last Friday in the French capital.

D’Tigress in a now viral post on their X account disclosed that lack of communication between the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) who are responsible for taken care of Team Nigeria athletes including the basketball team.

The Nigeria’s women senior team made a two hour drive from Lille to Paris only to be denied access to join the rest of the Team Nigeria contingent for the opening ceremony.

The D’Tigress stated that the basketball team was not carried along nor informed that the athletes selected for the Olympic float at the opening ceremony had already been done.

“For clarity , the selection of athletes for the Olympics float at the opening ceremony is NOT at the discretion of the Federation.

“The fact was established that the team was not briefed by the NOC or the Sports Ministry on the schedules and modalities for the march past ceremony, before the team made the 2 hours long journey from its base in Lille to Paris.

The fact was established that the team was not briefed by the NOC or the Sports Ministry on the schedules and modalities for the march past ceremony, before the team made the 2 hours long journey from its base in Lille to Paris.

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“It is a known fact that the Sports Ministry had officially handed over all the individual athletes and teams representing Nigeria at the games to the NOC. Therefore, it is expected that there should not be any gap in communication between the NOC and the federations, and lastly, the NBBF has, so far, done the necessary preparations for the team to have a good outing at the games, within the available time frame / resources at its disposal, and remain committed to putting in more efforts to ensure that Nigeria is proudly represented at all times.

“That would have saved the national women’s basketball team, the stress, psychological pains and the inherent fatigue of travelling from Lille to Paris, which is not necessary, only to be denied access to participate in the opening ceremony, when they were indeed fully prepared .

“Nigeria, with a contingent size of 88, were allotted 41 persons for the march past on the boat. The NOC/Ministry officials decided to share the 41 slots amongst the federations in Paris with the exception of Basketball and Football who were adjudged to be based away from Paris.”

• Boxing duo arrive Paris 

The Nigeria Basketball Federation have made public the final roster of the D’Tigress ahead of the Paris 2024  Olympic Games.

Leading the 12 players list is the captain of the team Amy Okonkwo, Elizabeth Balogun, Nicole Enabosi, Promise Amukamara, ⁠Murjanatu Musa and Ifunaya Okoro.

Others include Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpannah, ⁠Blessing Ejiofor, Ezinne Kalu, Olaoluwatomi  Taiwo, ⁠Lauren Ebo and Adebola Adeyeye.

Meanwhile, D’Tigress on Monday  arrived Lille for  their last preparatory game against Japan ahead of the Paris Olympic Games that begins Friday.

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D’Tigress, who have been preparing in Germany under the tutelage of highly-regarded Coach Rena Wakama, also played two test games against Germany and Serbia, losing both respective matches. 

Today,  D’Tigress would go out for another test game, this time, against the Japan female national basketball team by 8pm, in Lille, France.

In a related Team Nigeria news, the boxing duo of Cynthia Ogunsemilore and Adams Olaore have landed in Paris, France, for the 2024 Olympic Games,

The duo will hope to end Nigeria’s 28-year medal drought in boxing.

Atlanta 1996 was the last time Nigeria got a medal at the Olympics via Duncan Dokiwari who secured a bronze medal.

Olaore will compete in the men’s heavyweight (92kg) division, while Ogunsemilore will fight for honours in the women’s (60kg) category.

Dolapo Omole who would have been Nigeria’s third boxer in the 57 kg had been lost to injury.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has announced additional friendly games for the country’s representative in the Olympic Games women’s basketball event, D’Tigress.

The NBBF had initially named Germany and Serbia as D’Tigress foes in the friendly build up before the Olympic Games on July 19^th  and 21^st  respectively  but the women’s basketball side will  also test the might of Japan also when they get to France in their last test game before the Olympics.

Meanwhile, the head coach of Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the  D’Tigress, Rena Wakama, has expressed her confidence in the team as they continue training in their new camp in Germany, ahead of the Paris Olympic Games.

Read Also: D’Tigress to camp in Ghana, USA for Paris 2024

In chat with NBBF media, Wakama said: “Things have been going well in the camp in the last few day, as we have had great practice sessions and the girls are in great spirits.

“The girls are responding well to training and getting better, every day. And that’s what that matters.

“I’m confident that the girls would be able to display their talents, when we get to Paris. I’m excited and looking forward to the games,” Wakama, who led D’Tigress to a record equalling fourth Afrobasket title in Rwanda, confidently said.

Nigeria Basketball Federation has released of a list of 20 women’s  basket ballers, for the first phase of D’Tigress’ training camp for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, to hold in FCT, Abuja, beginning from tomorrow.

D’Tigress who would be representing Nigeria at Olympic Games are tutored by women’s coach Rena Wakama, who led the team to a record equalling fourth Afrobasket title in Rwanda, 2023.

On the list of players invited in a press statement signed by the NBBF Secretary General Peter Njoku, are Regina Donanu (MFM), Khadijat Garba (Hot Coal), Naomi Okoro (First Bank), Maryam Idris (Nigeria Customs), Idubamo Beggi (MFM) and Ifunaya Okoro(Tindastoll, Iceland).

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Others are:Wandoo Hembam(MFM), Agatha A. Agatha(Energies Basketball Club, Cotonou, Republic of Benin) and Gbemisola Samuel (Dolphins).

The list also include: Tewogbade Ayomide(Dolphins), Osaretin Samuel (Bayelsa Blue Whales), Nkem Akarawe(Nigeria Customs), Murjanatu Musa(Celta Zorka, Spain) and Bright Eze (Nigeria Customs).

Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) have disclosed that the national women’s  team, D’ Tigress, will camp in Ghana and USA as part of their build up for the Paris Olympics.

The programme released at the just concluded executive meeting of the NBBF in Abuja comprises both local and international competitions the federation intended to participate in and keep the athletes busy throughout the calendar year (2024).

President of the federation, Alhaji Musa Kida said the board has approved proposal for the D’Tigress to have three phase camping in Nigeria, Ghana and the United States of America for adequate preparation for the Paris Olympics.

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D’Tigress are  drawn against Canada, Australia and France in what is considered  the  group of death.

 “it is an Olympic year -we have back to back qualification in the women’s category but unfortunately we are not able to qualify the Men’s team,” Kida told Journalists.

 “Our biggest focus for the year is on the 2024 Paris Olympics. We are looking at three phase camping for D’Tigress starting in Nigeria then Ghana and finally the USA. We do hope that with the backing of the sports ministry and the Nigeria Olympic Committee our performance will be more outstanding than the last Olympics.”

He continued:  “On the local scene, our focus is on the local league. We have 8 teams per conference in the premier league with robust division one and two. We are talking to sponsor so that we can kick-start the league at appropriate time.

” On the Women’s side- the Zenith Bank Women’s League. We also have 8 teams in Savannah Conference and 8 teams in the Atlantic Conference. They will form the Elite women’s league. Already, we are interfacing with officials of Zenith Bank to have a wonderful season.”

“Another priority on our programme is the Youth program. The U 21, 3X3 are been re-packaged for better performance.

“Also, the board have approved training, refresher courses for referees, match commissioners for 2024. They are part of our priority for the year. We are going to train them locally and bring top officials from FIBA to assist us in their training. We are also going to project some of them into international limelight.“

Nigeria’s D’Tigress is set to avoid the Pre-Qualifying games for the 2026 FIBA World Cup because of their decent performances in outings.

D’Tigress has won the Women’s Afrobasket for a record four consecutive times and will also be playing in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

FIBA, on yesterday announced that D’Tigress and 11 other countries that have qualified for the Olympics have been drawn bye into the qualifying tournament.

Read Also: Paris 2024 Qualifiers: D’Tigress lose  to Belgium

The 16 best teams in the World aside from teams playing at the Olympics will be in action with a first step on the road to Berlin.

The qualifying tournament will involve 24 teams with the winners of the Mexico and Rwanda Qualifying tournament and a further 22 teams determined by result in the FIBA Women’s Continental Cup 2025.

Nigeria’s D’Tigress suffered their second loss of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament to host, Belgium 78-61 points yesterday in the last game played in Antwerp.

D’Tigress sealed their ticket to the Olympic Games for the second edition running after they beat Senegal 62-57 points but the Rene Wakama led side have lost 100-46 points on Saturday to the United States before the defeat to Belgium yesterday.

Belgium’s Cats won in two quarters while D’Tigress took a quarter while the second quarter finished in a draw.

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Belgium took the first quarter comfortably 22-11 points but D’Tigress improved in the second quarter to hold their opponents to 18-18 points draw.

The hosts extended the lead in third quarter to 22 points when they won that quarter 23-13 points.

D’Tigress finally woke in the fourth quarter and took that quarter 19-15 points to lose the game by 17 points.

Elizabeth Balogun, Pallas Kunaiyi- Akpanah and Amy Okonkwo were sensational for Nigeria who will now try to prepare very well for the Olympics to surpass their 11th spot at the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.