An unspecified number of players, coaches and officials of Nigeria’s senior women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress arrived in Kigali on Tuesday, and are now settled in the Rwandan, ahead the 2023 FIBA Afrobasket tournament, which dunks off on Friday.
Nigeria’s D’Tigress are the defending champions of the tournament, and they departed the shore of the country from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, on Tuesday morning.
The back-to-back-to-back champions have been in camp in Abuja, where they have been putting finishing touches to their chaotic build-up to the defense of their crowns.
Prior to Nigeria’s arrival, 2021 finalists Mali; 2019 hosts and beaten finalists Senegal, and Mozambique were the only teams to have arrived in Kigali; after having their controversial open trials in the United States and in Nigeria, the D’Tigress camped in Abuja under the supervision of new Head Coach Rena Wakama, and had some practice games with Abuja-based men’s Basketball franchises like Mo Heat.
The defending Nigerian side will play the opening game of the championship this Friday, 28th of July against DR Congo.
*Nigeria’s 12-Woman Roster as released by the NBBF on Tuesday*:
Amy Okonkwo
Mujrjanatu Musa
Pallas Kunanyi-Akpannah
Adenike Olawuyi
Lauren Ebo
Blessing Ejiofor
Sarah Ogoke
Toyosi Abiola
Okoro Ifunanya
Adeyeye Adebola
Tom Taiwo
Elizabeth Balogun
Erica Ogwumike
But we can tell you on good authority that Erica Ogwumike was not among the players that boarded the plane yesterday to Kigali, after she decided to pull out of the competition, to focus on her medical exam in the United States.
Erica Ogwumike’s withdrawal brings to four the number of such high profile withdrawals; by top foreign based players who are very unhappy with the try-outs and administrative gaffes of the factionalized NBBF Board, led by Engr. Musa Kida.
One of the factional leaders of the NBBF, Mr. Igoche Mark has in a widely circulates message to the team, charged the players and coaches of D’Tigress to rise above the numerous challenges they have faced in their preparations, and use them as the motivational tonic to conquer Africa again.
Igoche Mark also urged the team to unlock their hidden potentials by extending their dominance as African champions, by winning the title they won in 2017, 2019 and 2021 for a record equaling fourth time.
The Women’s Afro-basket Championship, will be staged at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, from July 28 to August 6, 2023.
