Afrobasket: Shun hard drugs, FG urges victorious D’Tigress

By Daily Sports Nigeria on August 7, 2023

The Federal Government has urged the country’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, to shun drug addiction and other forms of social vices for them to enjoy the benefits of winning the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Tournament.

Ismaila Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, gave the advice on Sunday during a light reception organised for the team at the VIP lounge of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

“In sports, you must be a clean athlete; by this I mean you should shun drug addiction and other forms of social vices,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that D’Tigress returned on Sunday from Kigali, Rwanda, host of the 2023 Women’s Afrobasket tournament, through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and were received by officials of the Ministry of Sports.

The Nigerian ladies emerged as African champions for the fourth consecutive time on Friday following their 84-74 win over Senegal in the final of the tournament.

Abubakar described the feat as phenomenal, noting that President Bola Tinubu was proud of the team’s performance and achievement at the competition.

“The team demonstrated the resilience of the Nigerian spirit and this propelled the ladies to victory at the championship.

“They should always be prepared whenever they are called upon to represent the country especially now that the Olympics will be coming up in 2024 in France.

“So, whatever strategy adopted must be replicated at the games for us to remain at the top.”

He stated, “We must commend the management of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) led by Musa Kida, in spite of his health challenge, raised a formidable team that made this nation proud.

“I just received the team and the next step will be to submit a report to Mr President and from there, the president will know the appropriate time to receive them,” Abubakar said.

The coach of the team, Rena Wakama, expressed gratitude to the nation, especially the NBBF, for giving her the opportunity to lead the team.

Wakama also lauded her players for ensuring that the country recorded her fourth straight victory at the tournament.

“I also thank my parents, and my fellow coaches who encouraged me on the task and I assure everyone that we will continue to grow the game.”

The Most Valuable Player of the tournament, Amy Okonkwo, said she was delighted with the love, focus and team spirit demonstrated by the players and coaches.

Okonkwo noted that love among the team was the reason they won the tournament.

“It was a difficult and physical tournament that demanded a lot of hard work.

“Luckily, I had my teammates and coaches behind me and they enabled me to win the MVP,” she said.

Also speaking, D’Tigress Point Guard, Elizabeth Balogun, said their toughest match was against Mozambique.

She urged the federation to work towards providing the team with assorted kits for future outings.

NAN reports that the D’Tigress became the second team ever after their Senegalese counterparts to win four consecutive titles and extend their unbeaten run to 23 games.

The last time the team lost a game in the Women’s AfroBasket was in 2015 against Cameroon in the semi-finals.

 

 

 

 

 

Source Punch Ng

Posted August 7, 2023


 

You may also like...
Oshoala eyes Olympics medal in Paris

Sakho suspended for 30 days

Newcastle And Aston Villa Clash Postponed Due To...

Osabu FC and Nigerian Grassroots Star Idoghor Signs...

Lille Slap 100m Euros On Osimhen

Neymar plays second fiddle to Eden Hazard as...

 

Latest News Abraham set to join Besiktas from Roma 'Not impossible' Mbeumo will stay, say Brentford 'Turkish Messi' ready to replace Modric at Real Madrid Guardiola praises City’s performance despite Club World Cup exit Fluminense beat Inter Milan to reach Club World Cup quarter-finals Alcaraz avoids Fognini shock after fan taken ill Anambra School Sports Festival Ends In Emotional Grand Style As Njikoka Emerge Champions Club W’Cup: Chelsea face travel woes after group stage upset Lyon included in Ligue 1 fixtures despite demotion Adesanya eyes Strickland fight for UFC return Wilder ends losing streak, but questions linger Brentford reject Man Utd's new £62.5m Mbeumo bid

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,554 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,716 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,731 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,325 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,324 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,315 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,120 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,660 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,770 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,382 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,829 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,253 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media