By Akeem Busari
Nigeria’s senior women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, just concluded a playing tour of the USA, playing against top rated WNBA teams, a first-ever by any African team, in preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, coming up September in Berlin, Germany.
The highly rated Nigerian girls played three high profiled games losing against Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever respectively.
Speaking with NBBF media team after the tour, former NBA players agent, board member and chairman of the NBBF marketing committee, Ugo Udezue, waxed lyrical about the chances of the team ahead of the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
“The just-concluded U.S. tour was exactly what D’Tigress needed at this stage of our journey. A high-level, high-pressure environment that tested our depth, exposed new talent, and reinforced our identity as a global team.
“While some may focus on results, we are focused on growth, cohesion, and long-term dominance. This tour has given us clarity, confidence, and a renewed belief in the direction we are heading.”
He added, “What this experience represents is the evolution of Nigerian basketball. We are building not just a team, but a sustainable pipeline blending established leaders, with a new generation of talent that will carry this programme forward for years to come.
“The exposure, the competition, and the lessons learned, positions D’Tigress, not just to compete at the World Cup, but to contend. The future is very bright, and more importantly, it is intentional.”
