Olympic champions pip Falcons 1-0 in friendly
The national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, will meet their German counterparts in a friendly game today ahead of their opening match at the Paris 2024 Olympics against Australia, on July 29.
The game is their first training match since they moved into their German camp, and it would be followed by other friendlies against Serbia, on July 22, and another against Japan, on July 24, before joining the Olympics in Paris.
According to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), after the test games, Coach Rema Wakama will announce the chosen 12 players to represent the country, in Paris.
Coach Wakama is already waxing lyrical about the quality of players at her disposal, saying that Nigeria stands a good chance of getting to the medals zone in Paris.
Wakama said the players have been responding well to training. “Things have been going well in the camp in the last few days, as we have had great practice sessions and the girls are in great spirits,” she told the NBBF media.
“The girls are responding well to training and getting better, every day. And that’s what matters. I’m confident that the girls will be able to display their talents when we get to Paris. I’m also excited and looking forward to the games.”
After Nigeria’s opening game against Australia on July 29, the D’Tigress will meet hosts, France on August 1 before rounding off the group stage against Canada three days later.
All preliminary matches will be held at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium, in Lille, with the final phase staged at the Accor Arena in Paris. Apart from the basketball team, Team Nigeria’s football side, the Super Falcons, have also intensified their preparations for the Games.
The team, which flew into Bordeaux, the venue of their first-round games, lost 0-1 to Olympic champions, Canada, in a warm-up match in Seville, Spain, on Wednesday.
Canada took the lead through Jordyn Huitema of Chilliwack, B.C. in the 18th minute and held on for the win despite Nigeria’s efforts to get the equaliser. Nigeria’s best chance came when Echegini hit the post in the second half with a sweeping shot that had the opposing goalkeeper grasping at thin air.
This defeat ended Nigeria’s 15-game unbeaten run, their last loss over 90 minutes being a 1-0 defeat to Colombia, in February 2023. It is also the Super Falcons’ first loss of the year 2024, with Nigeria having recorded two wins and two draws against Cameroon and South Africa this year. The Super Falcons will open their Olympics campaign with a game against Brazil before taking on world champions, Spain, and Japan.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, has explained that the country chose to camp in Saarbrucken, Germany, due to the city’s climatic similarities with what is expected in Paris, as well as its proximity to the French capital.
The minister also added that the foreign leg of camping was to help fine-tune technical preparations, as well as, to prepare athletes mentally and physically for the rigours of the Games. He expressed a strong belief in the Nigerian contingent and its ability to deliver podium performances against the rest of the world.
“Our athletes are training hard and are focused on achieving podium performances. We have high expectations, and I am confident that Team Nigeria will make the nation proud,” Enoh emphasised. “Local camping is also in full swing for our Paralympics team, ensuring that they are equally well-prepared,” the minister said.
The contingent has been sweating it out in the German city for about 12 days and will complete its two-week training tour before jetting out to Paris for the Games.
