The Senior National Women’s Basketball Team, D’ Tigress, will play two preparatory games against Germany and Puerto Rico before the start of the Basketball event at the Olympic Games in Paris on July 28.
Akeem Busari, the Media Coordinator for the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBF) said this in a statement on Friday in Lagos.
According to the release, D’tigress, one of the African representatives at the coming Olympics in Paris, France would play Germany on July 19 in Berlin, Germany.
The games against Germany and Puerto Rico will provide the team with competitive experience while also allowing them to assess their preparation.
D’Tigress secured qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris in a qualifier in February. The team has won the last four editions of FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championships, showing their dominance on the African continent.
The 2024 Olympic Games will be held in the French city of Paris between July and August 2024, and the NBBF boss said there were plans for three phases of camping for the Nigerian girls.
In Paris, D’Tigress will battle for a quarter-final spot in Group B alongside powerhouses Australia, Canada and host nation France. The Women’s Basketball competition at the Paris Olympics runs from July 28 to August 11 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Decathlon Arena).
The team will also play warm-up matches during their training camp in Nigeria before heading to France. The Nigeria Basketball Federation has invited 20 players to the first phase of camping in Abuja to mark the commencement of D’Tigress’ preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The team includes Murjanatu Musa, who plays for Celta Zorka in Spain, Ifunanya Okoro of Tindastoll (Iceland) and Afrobasket winner Nkem Akaraiwe of Nigeria Customs, who leads the roster of home-based players. Other players include Regina Donanu, Wandoo Hembam, Idubamo Beggi, Olanrewaju Ayodeji, Abigail Isaac, Agatha Ternadoo of Energies Basketball Club in Cotonou, Khadijat Garba, Maryam Idris, Naomi Okoro, Gbemisola Samuel, Tewogbade Ayomide, Osaretin Samuel, Bright Eze, Amarachi Umeh, Isaac Abigail, Chiamaka Iwuji, Isioma Onianwa and Chiamaka Mgboh.
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The team will be joined by Chicago Sky forwards Michaela Onyenwere, Elizabeth Balogun and Ezinne Kalu, who are expected to add strength to the team. The Nigeria Basketball Federation was unable to secure the services of Arike Ogunbowale, who plays for the US team.
D’Tigress will open their campaign against Australia on July 29. They will then face the world champions, the US, with a score of 100-46. Nigeria defeated Senegal 72-65 in their first game of the tournament, which gave the team a massive advantage over their West African neighbours.
This is the third time D’Tigress will qualify for the Olympic Games, having also competed at the Athens 2004 and Tokyo 2020 editions of the tournament.
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