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Tag: D’Tigress

  • President Buhari Doles Out N17.5m To D’Tigress

    President Buhari Doles Out N17.5m To D’Tigress

     

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has redeemed his promise to reward the 2017 Afrobasket winning women’s team, D’Tigress of Nigeria.
    Each player got N1,000,000 (One million Naira) while 5 Coaching crew members got N500,000 (Five hundred thousand Naira)each.
    In his address, the Minister of Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung said sports in Nigeria is moving to greater heights through the unprecedented support of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari.
    “In Mr President’s usual way of showing appreciation to our sports men and women who made the nation proud, he received the team at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday August 30, 2017 during the Federal Executive meeting.
     “History is made today as His Excellency, Mr President has fulfilled his promise to the heroic Afrobasket team by doling out the sum of One million Naira (N1,000,000) to each of the players and Five hundred thousand (500,000) to each of the officials totaling Seventeen million, five hundred thousand Naira (N17,500,000).”
    Barrister Dalung thanked the President for his administration’s outstanding contributions to the development of sports in Nigeria and for his extrinsic reward in particular.
    The Minister said that Mr President’s kind gesture will have a multiplier effect on the country’s podium success in the forth coming Commonwealth Games, scheduled to hold in Gold Coast, Australia from 4th -15th April 2018.
    In his response, the Vice President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation Mr Babs Ogunade thanked the President for redeeming his promise to reward D’Tigress for their excellence and hard work.
    “Over a period of time, administrations have made promises to athletes and failed but with the change mantra, this administration promised to reward the gold winning basketball team and they have fulfilled their promise.
    “Like Oliver Twist, we will always ask for more. As you are aware, we qualified for the World Cup in Spain next year and we are gearing up for that as well as the Commonwealth Games. We ask for the federal government’s support ahead of all these assignments although, we are also looking outward to get sponsorship so that we don’t put everything on the government. We however thank you so much and look forward to seeing that all these come to fruition,”  Ogunade said.
  • Zenith Bank receives D’Tigress, pledges support for Spain 2018 World Championship

    Zenith Bank receives D’Tigress, pledges support for Spain 2018 World Championship

    Zenith Bank, sponsor of the national Women Basketball League, says it will give adequate support to the champions of the 2017 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship, D’Tigress for the World Championship in Spain next year.

    The Group Managing Director, Peter Amangbo, made the promise on Thursday in Lagos as Zenith Bank received members of the victorious team at its headquarters in Lagos.

    “Zenith Bank will throw its weight behind the team for the World Championship slated for Spain next year.

    “Now that you are going to Spain, we are going to support you again for the competition,’’ Amango said.

    He congratulated the players and officials for the remarkable feat recorded in Bamako, Mali, noting that the bank and indeed Nigerians were proud of their achievement.

    Amangbo said: “It was not only the win that was exciting but also the way you won.

    “During the competition, we were following your progress with keen interest and it is heartwarming that you came back as champions.

    “We always support people who are committed just like you. Nigerians have made a mark in basketball.

    “We all know about the exploits of Akeem Olajunwon of the Toronto Raptors fame in the U.S. NBA. He also led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.

    “In 2008, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame.

    “Raptors is my favourite team and the General Manager of the team is a Nigerian.’’

    The Captain of the team, Aisha Muhammed, commended the bank for hosting the team and supporting the game in the country.

    “I am happy to be here because the support Zenith has been giving the game is a big one for our colleagues playing in Nigeria,’’ she said.

    The team was rewarded with cash awards, which were paid into accounts opened for them during the visit, and for which they were all presented with Debit Cards.

    The Vice-President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Babatunde Ogunade, who led the team, praised Zenith Bank for its continued support for the game.

    He noted the fact that the bank had through its sponsorship of the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League enabled Nigerian women players to challenge for the leadership of game in Africa.

    Ogunade also said that three members of the winning team, Chioma Udeaja, Nkechi Akashili and Upe Atosu featured in the recently held Zenith Women League.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the D’Tigress won all their matches to final in the championship staged in Bamako, Mali.

    To emerge champions, they defeated the defending champions and tournament favourites, Senegal 65-48 in the final. They had also defeated the Senegalese 58-54 in the group stage of the biennial competition.

    NAN also reports that Nigeria’s Evelyn Akhator emerged one of the five best players in the tournament and that her contributions will not go unnoticed as she averaged 15 points per match.

    Senegal’s Astou Traore was named the competition’s Most Valuable Player.

  • Buhari presides over FEC, announces N1m gift for each D’Tigress player

    Buhari presides over FEC, announces N1m gift for each D’Tigress player

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    That was the first FEC meeting he was chairing since he proceeded on medical vacation in the United Kingdom on May 7.

    Even though he returned to Nigeria on August 19, FEC didn’t hold last week to allow him receive the investigative report from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke.

    Buhari’s first assignment at FEC, which started at about 11:00 a.m on Wednesday, was to receive the victorious Nigeria’s national basketball team, D’ Tigress.

    The President announced N1 million gift for each of the female basketball players.

    The team won the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament in Mali and also qualified for the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup slated for Spain.

  • Buhari congratulates D’Tigress on African Basketball victory

    Buhari congratulates D’Tigress on African Basketball victory

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the national female basketball team, D’Tigress, on winning the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament in Mali and qualifying for the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Spain.

    Buhari also joined other sports-loving Nigerians in saluting the heroic performance of the victorious D’Tigress over their Senegalese counterpart in the final of the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament on Sunday.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, commended the players for displaying uncommon strength, confidence, skill and dexterity in their victory over the defending champions.

    He urged members of the team and their handlers to remain focused and dedicated even as they prepare for greater glory to Nigeria at the forthcoming FIBA World Cup.

    The President assured the team, its managers and the Nigeria Basketball Federation of his support and that of the Federal Government to ensure that they excel against other top competitors in Spain.

  • D’Tigress beat Senegal 65-48 to win 2017 Afrobasket title

    D’Tigress beat Senegal 65-48 to win 2017 Afrobasket title

    Nigeria’s senior women basketball team, D’Tigress, on Sunday restored the nation’s lost glory in the Women Afrobasket having defeated defending champions, Senegal to clinch the title for the third time after 12 years.

    The News agency of Nigeria reports that in the competition’s final played in Bamako, Mali, the D’Tigress walloped their Senegalese counterparts 65-48 points to beat them a second time in the championship.

    NAN reports that the team recorded no loss in all their games to the final in the 2017 edition after they had won it last in 2005. They first won it in in 2003.

    With the victory, the team has qualified for the 2018 Women FIBA Championship in Spain.

    They had earlier in the semi-final defeated hosts, Mali 48-47 to set up the final against Senegal which they had earlier beaten 58-54 points on Thursday in the group stage of the tournament.

    In the first quarter of the match, Senegal enjoyed the privilege of 18-12 points’ victory but Nigeria powered past with 21-10 points in the second quarter.

    Senegal then struggled to reverse their loss in the third quarter only to suffer additional loss of 7-15 points to D’Tigress.

    Evelyn Akhator, Dallas Wing forward, in the Women National Basketball Association (WNBA), has earned a reputation as top performer for the umpteenth time in the competition, scoring 13 points and seven rebounds for D’Tigress.

    Akhator also made two assists and one steal even as she made no successful block during the final game.

    But D’Tigers Captain, Aisha Muhammed, Adaora Elonu and Ezinne Kalu contributed seven rebounds, four assists and two steals respectively during the match.

    However, Astou Traore, the top performer for Senegal, scored 17 points which was the highest score in the match, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and no block, all in vain to stop D’Tigress.

    Nigeria’s return to glory in women basketball in the continent began on July 21 immediately Musa Kida-led NBBF was inaugurated by Solomon Dalung, Minister of Youths and Sports.

    Kida had announced the opening of camp for D’Tigress in Florida U.S, and Lagos for the invited foreign and home-based players respectively.

    It will be recalled that Kida said the players and officials’ welfare was prioritised by the management board of the NBBF to get the best of the team.

  • Afrobasket: NBBF President in Mali to boost D’Tigress morale

    Afrobasket: NBBF President in Mali to boost D’Tigress morale

    Musa Kida, President, Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), has arrived in Mali on Thursday to boost the morale of D’Tigress ahead of their quarter-final match of the 2017 Women Afrobasket Championship on Friday.

    “The NBBF President, Kida, will touch down in Bamako, Mali on Thursday ahead of Friday’s game against Cote d’Ivoire to boost the mood in the camp of the D’Tigress,’’ an NBBF statement said in Abuja on Friday.

    The NBBF President and sports lovers in the country have commended the impressive performance of D’Tigress against their age-long rivals, Senegal, in the match on Wednesday.

    The last Group B match between the two teams ended 54-58 points in favour of Nigeria.

    The statement also said that the team’s Coach, Sam Vincent, as well as the players had reacted to their victory against Senegal in a match dubbed “Final before final’’.

    Vincent said they needed to keep celebrations to the barest minimum ahead of the crunchy quarter-final tie against Cote d’Ivoire that finished fourth in their group.

    It said that Peter Ahmedu, the first Assistant Coach, praised the girls for defying all odds and showing a commendable level of resilience to maintain their lead till the end of the game.

    It attributed the victory to due diligence and scouting reports put together by the technical crew.

    “We were able to study the Senegalese off and on the court. The style we deployed was a different ball game to what they expected and it was very helpful,’’ the statement said.

    It added that Senegal, the defending champions, were under a lot of pressure during the match.

    NAN reports that Senegal did not recover from the debilitating injury inflicted by D’Tigress in the first two quarters that ended 26-34 points in spite of enjoying huge support from their Francophone fans.

    Evelyn Akhator, star player of the match, was not deterred on the night in spite of the massive support for the opponents by a horde of Senegalese fans and by their French speaking hosts Mali.

    The Dallas Wings player led by example with 15 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal as the team confirmed it’s superiority over the Senegalese they defeated at the group stage of the 2015 edition.

    Also, Atonye Nyingifa contributed with 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 points, Adaora Elonu gave the team 10 points, 4 assists and 5 rebounds.

    Similarly, inspiring Kalu Ezinne, who was all over the court dictating the tempo, helped with 11 points.

    The Nigerian team is expected by fans at home and abroad to return the nation to its days of glory in Women AfroBasket.

  • AfroBasketball 2017: Aboderin visits D’Tigress, charges them to win

    AfroBasketball 2017: Aboderin visits D’Tigress, charges them to win

    Wale Aboderin, the Proprietor of Dolphins Basketball club of Lagos, on Friday urged the Senior National Women’s Basketball Team, D’Tigress to go for victory in the 2017 Afrobasket Championships in Mali.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that D’Tigress opened their account against Mozambique, before squaring-off against Congo Democratic on Saturday and Egypt on Sunday.

    Aboderin, however, expressed confidence in the team’s abilities to do well, having watched them train some few hours before their first group match.

    Aboderin had visited the team immediately after their training at the Olympe Hotel, Bamako base to lend his support.

    In a brief chat with the players and the Technical team led by Sam Vincent, Aboderin said he came purposely to cheer the team to victory.

    According to him, nothing was too much to sacrifice for the nation or her assets (D’Tigress) just to ensure victory at the end of the tournament.

    “This is a great team and I have the confidence that you can excel, there are other tough teams in the group, but with good teamwork, you can excel at the end.

    “The whole nation is solidly behind you and believes that at the end, you will make everyone proud,’’he said.

    Meanwhile, the host and the defending champion Senegal, who will engage D’Tigress in their final group game, got the ball rolling with a 105-39 victory over Guinea.

    Egypt also recorded their first three point’s victory by overpowering Democratic Republic of Congo, 99-72.

    The competition which dunked-off on Aug. 18 will be concluded on Aug. 27.

  • D’Tigress to face Belarus, South Korea for Rio Olympics ticket

    D’Tigress to face Belarus, South Korea for Rio Olympics ticket

    D’Tigress, the senior national women basketball team, have been drawn in Group C alongside Belarus and South Korea for the 2016 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT).

    In the competition’s official draw held at the headquarters of world basketball governing body FIBA in Mies, Switzerland on Tuesday, Africa’s other representatives, Cameroon, were drawn in Group B.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the WOQT will hold in Nantes, France from June 13 to June 19.

    The tournament is the final level of qualifiers for the women’s basketball event of the 2016 Olympic Games scheduled for Aug. 5 to Aug. 21 in Rio, Brazil.

    Qualifiers for the tournament were drawn from the continental championships, with Cameroon and Nigeria qualifying on the strength of finishing second and third respectively at the 2015 Afrobasket for Women.

    Group A of the event has Cuba, New Zealand and France, while Group B has Cameroon, Turkey and Argentina. Group C has Belarus, South Korea and Nigeria, while Group D has Venezuela, Spain and China.

    Nigeria will open their challenge against Belarus on June 13, before taking on South Korea on June 14. If they progress, they will take on either the Group D runners-up or winners in the quarter-finals on June 17, where success is a direct qualification for the Rio Games.

    If the D’Tigress succeeds, it will be their first-ever Olympic appearance.

    They will then be emulating their male counterparts, D’Tigers who qualified for their first-ever Olympics in 2012 from the OQT in Venezuela.

    The draw for the men’s version of the tournament, Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT), which will hold in three venues, was also held at the same venue on Tuesday in Switzerland. Nigeria’s D’Tigers have already qualified for the Olympics by virtue of winning the 2015 Afrobasket for Men in Tunisia, and do not need to play in the qualifiers.

    But, Africa has three other representatives seeking Olympics tickets, with Angola in Group A in Serbia, Senegal in Group A in Philippines and Tunisia in Group B in Italy.

    The Serbia event will hold July 4 to July 9 in Belgrade with Group A having Serbia, Angola and Puerto Rico and Group B having Japan, Czech Republic and Latvia. OQT Manila will hold in Philippines from July 5 to July 10, with Turkey, Senegal and Canada in Group A, and France, New Zealand and Philippines in Group B. OQT Turin in Italy will hold from July 4 to July 9, with Greece, Mexico and Iran in Group A, and Tunisia, Croatia and Italy in Group B.

     

  • Basketball: D’Tigress Ogoke dazzles in Spanish League

    Basketball: D’Tigress Ogoke dazzles in Spanish League

    After a slow start to her career at Celta Baloncesta Femenino of Spain, D’Tigress point guard, Sarah Ogoke made 27 points and nine rebounds as her team lost to Ensino Lugo 63-71 on Saturday.

    The 25-year-old Nigerian international, who joined the team after a grueling time at the African Games in Congo Brazzaville and the Afrobasket where Nigeria finished second and third respectively, was unable to save her team from defeat.

    Ogoke told Sportinglife that she is the oldest in the team and that most of the players were mostly U-18.

    “My team is very young with just 10 players. One is currently injured and five of the remaining 9 are under the age of 18. I am the oldest at age 25. The next oldest person is 21, which shows that the team is work in progress and will return to winning way soon. The season has just started, so, all I can do is lead by example and encourage the youngsters,” she added.

    According to Ogoke, winning the next game would be good for team spirit and instill confidence in the young team.

    “I am sure we’ll win the next game. We are improving and the only way for us is to move forward because that is how we can measure our progress. I started off a bit slow with my new team because of the stress from the travel from Afrobasket to Spain, but I am ready to take my rightful place and move the team forward.”

    She also thanked her teammates for helping her use to life in Spain. “My teammates are very kind. Although Spanish is their native language, they all try their best to speak English with me. And I’m also learning Spanish as well.

    “We spend a lot of time together on the court and we also go out to eat dinner together and such I am bonding with the team as fast as I can. The coaching staff is also very supportive and I will continue to learn as I take my game to the top,” she added.

    Ogoke was snapped up by Primerio D’Agosto of Angola last season after doing so well with First Bank Basketball Club at the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women in Tunisia in 2014.

  • D’Tigress beat Mozambique by 71-66 points

    D’Tigress beat Mozambique by 71-66 points

    • To face Cameroon in today’s semi-final

    Nigeria’s female national basketball team, D’Tigress advance to the AfroBasket Women 2015 semi-final after beating Mozambique by 71-66 points in the first quarter-finals on Thursday in Yaounde, Cameroon.

    The Nigerian ladies will now face Cameroon in the semi final after the host defeated Egypt by 76-54 points in the other quarter final game.

    The Scott Nnaji led team had on Tuesday night beat Algeria 79-49 in their fifth and last Group B game to reach the quarter final after starting the tournament with a 57-51 defeat to Angola before going on to win the rest of their group matches, beating Egypt 97-68, Guinea 100-47 and Senegal 75-64.

    Yesterday’s game saw Joyce Ekworomadu sparked Nigeria with a game-best 20 points, while Odelia Mafanela and Deolinda Ngulela combined for 34 Mozambique points.

    Game hero, Helen Ogunjimi has officially become Nigeria’s secret weapon. She not only played aggressive defense, but  30-year-old guard provide two crucial three-pointers keeping Nigeria very much alive in the contest.

    Two years ago, Mozambique upset Nigeria in the quarter finals, and on Thursday they were very close to repeat their fortunes, but Nigeria stepped on floor a desperation mode, reaching the tournament’s semi final for the second time since 2011.

    Ndidi Madu, who clear the boards with a game-high 13 rebounds later told FIBA.com: “It was a tough game for us. Mozambique is a great team. We didn’t do a good of job rebounding. We definitely need to able to rebound in order to win ball games. It does not matter who we face tomorrow, we just need to be ready for the fight.”