FIBA WOMEN WORLD CUP D’Tigress beat Mali to land in Australia
Mark said the victory of the team means that ladies are destined to rule the world
Nigeria’s women basketball team D’Tigress Sunday afternoon beat Mali 73-69 to qualify for the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup slated for Sydney, Australia later in the year.
The Nigerian ladies needed a repeat of their world-class performance against France to beat West African neigbour 73-69 at the Ranko Žeravica Sports Hall, Belgrade, Serbian.
The three-time African defending champions, who will be flying the continent’s flag in Sydney, lost their first set 20-22.
Just like they did against France on Friday, the Otis Hugley girls did just enough to rally back from a 2-point deficit in the first quarter to snatch a win and book their second consecutive World Cup ticket.
Meanwhile, NBBF factional President Igoche Mark has again saluted the astounding performance of Nigeria's Senior Women Basketball Team, D’Tigress after they defeat Mali 73-69 on Sunday at the ongoing FIBA Women World Cup Qualifiers in Serbia.
Mark said the victory of the team means that ladies are destined to rule the world.
"Champions of Africa, you have done it again, your victory today against Mali was astounding.
“Your performances in these qualifiers are a testament to the fact that you're destined to rule the world. Thank you ladies for putting the negative past behind you. Continue to excel as Champs!
Let me assure you, under my leadership, Basketball will become the number one sport in Nigeria. “Mark stated.
He assured the team that they will surely participate at the FIBA World Cup in Australia later in the year, advising the team to disregard contrary reports about the nation's withdrawal from the tournament.
Musa Kida the other factional leader of NBBF also congratulated the team.
"We knew what we wanted and what we needed to do. In 2018 in Spain, they became the first team from Africa to win two games at the FIBA World Cup and also first out of Africa to advance to the quarter finals".
For Kida, the latest victory is another clarion call for all stakeholders to join hands in building a formidable basketball structure that can stand the test of time.
"We have the potential within and outside Nigeria to do more to develop basketball. We just have to come together and do what is best in the interest of the game”.
It is important to note that the only thing Mark and Kida contributed to the success of the team was words of encouragement before matches and congratulations after victories. Credit for the team’s success should go to the American’s development of the game at the grassroots level and the country’s highly competitive and developmental inter-collegiate basketball system.
