Captain of the Nigerian women’s national basketball team, Adaora Elonu, has stated that D’Tigress are just getting started despite going unbeaten in four years and achieving an incredible 16-0 record which has handed Nigeria the undisputed crown in African basketball.
The Nigerian female basketball team has enjoyed back-to-back success as champions of FIBA Women’s AfroBasket championship, and is now targeting a place at the world stage, which means they have to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Japan.
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Nigeria’s debut in women’s basketball at the Olympics was 15 years ago in Athens and this set wants to replicate that form and even hit greater heights. However, Elonu understands that she and her team mates need to be at their best to achieve their set target of qualifying and forge ahead to conquer the world.
It feels very nice this qualification. We needed this to continue to fight for a chance to attend the Olympics… For Nigeria, I think it means that we are making them proud. We work very hard and are still working to reach our goals. Nigeria has been very supportive of our success and we are glad we have been doing well thus far… It has been great. Many ups and downs at times where the players and staff have had to persevere and showing this record makes it seem worth it.
Elonu
D’Tigress and Mozambique are Africa’s two representatives for the final round of qualifiers for the Olympics, but they will have to wait until November 27, 2019, to see the outcome of the draws which will split the 16 teams that made it this far into four groups, during a ceremony which will be held at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball, FIBA Headquarters in Mies, Switzerland. Elonu admits the last stage of qualification will be tough but is optimistic the Nigerian side will pull through.
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Source:
FIBA
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