Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, “D’Tigress” Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) ahead of their title defence at the 29th FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship.
The team was hosted in Abuja by the NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade.
Speaking, Dikko said D’Tigress has made Nigeria proud on numerous occasions, saying the commission remained firmly behind the team.
“Winning four straight Afrobasket titles is no small feat, and the entire nation is rooting for you to make it five. You are not just champions, you are role models to a lot of young girls in Africa,” he noted.
Dikko went ahead to ask the team to table their immediate needs as they get set to jet out for their title defence.
The Commission wasted no time in approving the requests presented by the players, underscoring the Commission’s commitment to athlete welfare.
Also, Olopade commended the team for being a beacon of hope and inspiration, assuring them of the nation’s full support, as they gear up to defend their crown in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from July 25th to August 3rd.
He added:“What D’Tigress has achieved is not just about the titles they’ve won, it’s also about building a legacy for themselves that speaks to courage, preparation, and unity.
“This team has turned pressure into purpose and shown that Nigerian excellence is no fluke. The NSC will continue to match their ambition with the right support, because they’ve earned more than applause.”
The 29th edition of the Women’s Afrobasket will feature 12 countries battling for continental glory.
Nigeria heads into the tournament as the defending champions, having defeated Senegal 84–74 in the 2023 final in Kigali, Rwanda.
The D’Tigress also triumphed over Senegal in 2017 and 2019, and beat Mali in the 2021 final, asserting dominance on the continent over the past decade.