BY Remi Sulola
D’Tigress have been drawn in the same group as Turkey, Argentina and Australia for the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
The team will be hoping to surpass their 2006 outing where they lost all their group games against China, Russia and the US before suffering another defeat in the classification game against Senegal to finish 16th.
Reacting to the draws, Dallas Wings player and one of the most influential Nigerians in the WNBA, Evelyn Akhator, said, “I think it will be a great outing for us being drawn alongside Australia Turkey and Argentina.
“I have watched the Turkish national team play and I am confident that we will surmount them. On the other hand Australia and Argentina, we will give a good fight with all hopes of winning.
“A build up on our previous success at the Afrobasket would surely bear fruitful result.”
Sam Vincent, head coach of the team, said the team will immediately commence preparation for the World Cup.
“I am excited and confident about our position in the pool drawing for Spain,” Vincent said.
“It moves us one step closer to our goal of securing a medal in the 2018 FIBA World Cup.”
Babs Ogunade, vice-president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), described the group as “interesting”, expressing optimism that D’Tigress will go far.
“We are sure to make it to the next round, then one game at a time,” Ogunade said.
“We are the dark horses here and it is a good place to be so as to spring surprises. We have our hearts and heads in a good place.”
The basketball tournament which is being hosted by Spain will hold in September.
Nigeria’s D’Tigress emerged champions of Africa for the third time after defeating Senegal in the final of the Afrobasket championship in August 2017.
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