TheCable

Rena Wakama, D’Tigress head coach, has released the provisional squad list ahead of the 2023 women’s Afrobasket championship in Kigali, Rwanda, later this month.

The 18-player list was announced via the team’s Twitter page on Tuesday.

The list was compiled following the open tryouts for the women’s team in Chicago, Lagos, and Abuja, which were held from July 8 to 11.

18 players have invited for the Senior Women’s Basketball team camping exercise in preparation for @afrobasketwomen #NBBF #DTigress pic.twitter.com/Izd41t3lQg

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— #NBBF (@nbbfonline) July 17, 2023

Some top players are missing from the roster including Adaora Elonu, the team’s captain to the 2021 Afrobasket triumph, Promise Amukamara and Ezinne Kalu.

Victoria Macaulay, Ify Ibekwe, Oderah Chidom, and Nicole Enabosi are other members who featured in the 2021 competition that did not make the list.

Sarah Ogoke, Elizabeth Balogun, Pallas Kunayi-Akpannah, Nkem Akaraiwe and Amy Okonkwo are the biggest names in the team that would be representing Nigeria in Kigali.

Toyosi Abiola, Tomi Taiwo, Onaibe Believe Jessica, Theresa Anta Joy Ebiega, Okoro Ifunaya and Hembam Wandoo are also included in the squad.

Others are Adeyeye Adebola, Amanda Okodugba, Murjanatu Musa Linan, Mac-Dangosu A. Theresa, Olawuyi Adenike Olayemi, Lauren Ebo and Blessing Ejiofor.

The team’s camp is billed to open on June 18, while the list will then be pruned down to 12 before the commencement of the championship.

The tournament is billed to hold at the Kigali Arena, Rwanda, from July 28 to August 6.

D’Tigress have won the last three editions of the Women’s Afrobasket and remain unbeaten in every African competition.

Nigeria will commence their title defence against the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 29 before facing Egypt two days later.