President Bola Tinubu and the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA)have congratulated Nigeria’s senior women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, on qualifying for the quarter-final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
D’Tigress will be the first African team in basketball to play in the quarter-finals at the Olympics.
The President commended the team for their uncommon demonstration of resilience, teamwork, and diligence.
President Tinubu also commended the coach and managers of the team for their dutifulness and dedication.
The President, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale on Sunday enjoined the brave Tigress not to rest on their oars until the final victory is won.
He assured 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.
FIBA also took time to heap plaudits on the Nigerian ladies, saying that D’Tigress have continued to make history.
“A historic campaign for Nigeria! Nigeria becomes first African team to play in Quarter-Finals,” FIBA wrote on its website.
“D’Tigress continue to make history and have become the first African team to make it beyond the Group phase at the Olympics. What a journey!.”
The Nigerian ladies gained the upper hand in the contest with a stunning 11-0 run to start the second half.
This left Canada reeling from which the North American girls never recovered.
Ezinne Kalu as usual came to the party fully prepared as she was highly influential and controlled play for D’Tigress by pulling the strings in the backcourt.
Kalu who was the playmaker registered 21 points, while Elizabeth Balogun chose a great time to have her best game of her life by rising to the occasion with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
D’Tigress were ruthless in punishing Canada’s mistakes at will with an incredible 27 points from turnovers as Nigeria look like they could give absolutely any team in the tournament a run for their money right now.
The West African girls returned with their rugged defense after a lapse of concentration in their previous defeat against France.
