Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) President, Musa Kida, has predicted that the national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, can shock the world at the 2022 Women World Cup, which holds from September 22 to October 1 in Sydney, Australia.
Nigeria is in Group B alongside France, Serbia, Japan, Canada and host, Australia.
According to Kida, D’Tigress have the quality to upset the more renowned teams if the team gets its strategies right and is adequately supported during its preparation for the event.
Kida said the FIBA Women World Cup would be another platform for the Nigerian girls, who are reigning African champions, to prove their worth to the world.
“In the last four years, we have continued to shock the world and other teams are now paying some serious attention to us. To continue on that path, we have to work extra hard to sustain the tempo,” Kida said.
He added that the NBBF would organise Grade A friendlies for the team ahead of the World Cup to keep the girls in top form.
“This is where the Federal Government comes in through funding. Early approval and release of funds is at the core of all our proposed plans. Preparing for such an important tournament costs money and we will be banking on the Federal Government.
“We are no longer referred to as just another team from Africa. We are now being addressed as Nigeria, based on what we have achieved in the last four years, which saw us winning three Afrobasket titles, back-to-back World Cup qualification and Olympics participation.
“Currently, the lowest-ranked team among the World cup Group opponents, D’Tigress are mindful of the task ahead as the sole representative of Africa at the global tourney. They are ready to pick one of the four available quarterfinals tickets in Sydney,” he said.
Meanwhile, the world basketball governing body, FIBA, has congratulated Kida for his re-election as NBBF president.
FIBA said in a statement on Tuesday, “Following the conclusion of the report review process, the Federation of the International Basketball Federation has congratulated Musa Kida and other newly elected NBBF board members.
In the letter authored by FIBA President, Hamane Niang, FIBA congratulated all the elected NBBF members that emerged at the Elective Congress held on January 31 in Benin, Edo State
In its acknowledgement and congratulatory letter dated March 7, 2022, FIBA highlighted the need for closer collaboration between the national body and the global umbrella to speed up the development of basketball in Nigeria.
In line with the constitutional provision of the 2019 NBBF constitution, the letter said, “FIBA takes the opportunity to request your confirmation as to the remaining members of the NBBF Board as per article 21.2 (d) to (i) of the NBBF Constitution.”
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