Players and officials of the victorious D’Tigress are still basking in the euphoria of the welcome they received from both the Government, Corporate Nigeria and Nigerians after winning the Afrobasket for the 5th consecutive time in Cote d’Ivoire.
The players and their officials have been warmly received back home since their heroic feat in Abidjan where they did the unprecedented by winning the African women title for a record five times in a row.
After winning the tournament, the Nigeria basketball Federation,NBBF, alongside the National Sports Commission, NSC, ensured the team was flown back home as royalties in a chartered flight to officially present the trophy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR , at the Presidential Villa.
And taking a look at all that were put together for the team in the last few days, the players expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to the Federal Government and the Corporation Bodies led by Zenith Bank PLC.
Captain of the Team, Amy Okonkwo described all the receptions as an unforgettable experience of a lifetime for them.
” My girls and myself are sincerely overwhelmed to see how the whole country welcomed us and showed us love. It’s being a wonderful and undescribable experience, and we are even more motivated now to go on to do more for the country.
” Mr President showed us fatherly love and has given us more hope for the future. What can I say about our mothers – the Minister of Women Affairs, the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy and the Minister of state for Finance. Their support has been very inspiring and as a team, we are very thankful”.
” The Leadership of the National Sports Commission, NSC, led by Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, has also been very supportive. We have never had it this good, seeing how the NSC has been very concerned about our welfare and success throughout the tournament”.
” I also want to thank the Corporate Nigeria especially Zenith Bank Plc, who have been a big backbone of Nigeria Basketball for many years.They played a big part in our success story today. A big thank you also to NNPC, and we are very excited for all the plans they are putting together for Nigerian basketball”.
Amy Okonkwo who was adjudged the best player at the tournament also gave a special appreciation to the leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation,NBBF, led by it’s President Engr Musa Kida.
” All of these would not have been possible if not for the kind of leadership of basketball in Nigeria led by our President, Engr Musa Kida, whose immense sacrifice has brought us this far. He is our father and leader who inspires us everyday alongside our General Manager Musa Adamu and other board members of the federation”, she concluded.
President of the NBBF, Engr Musa Kida, has also thanked everyone for making the victory of the girls an unforgettable experience, expressing confidence that this will surely open a new vista of growth for basketball in the country.
