Afrobasket: Hon Ekene Adams celebrates D’Tigress historic win

 

Chairman House Committee on Sports Honourable Ekene Abubakar Adams has congratulated Nigeria’s female basketball team, D’Tigress for winning the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship for the fourth consecutive time in a row.

The Rena Wakama- led D’Tigress proved their dominance in the women's basket after edging 11-time African champions, Senegal 84-74 to claim their sixth championship at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday.

Saturday's trump, means D’Tigress will compete for a spot at the women’s basketball event of the 2024 Olympics.

Adams, a member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Kaduna State in the 10th House of Representatives; could not hide his delight after the feat.

"Congratulations to our women's Basketball team- D’Tigress and the entire backroom staff. The team has showed their dominance in the sport in Africa, and they showed the Nigeria never-say-die attitude going unbeaten in Kigali.

"The team showcased their talent to Africans and the world as they kept fans seated on their edge of their seats with quality basketball skills all their games at the BK Arena.

"Rena Wakama have also made Nigerian women proud, as she was the was the only female coach at the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship and she did better what any man can do at the event.

"Kudos to the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) on the choice of Wakama, as its has now proven to be well-thought-out as she brought her wealth of experience, having previously represented Nigeria as a national team player.

"Am pouring praise on Amy Okonkwo too, as was a star, having played a huge role in helping Nigeria clinch the 2023 FIBA Women's AfroBasket, and, as a result, the 26-year-old was named the TISSOT MVP of the tournament.

"Recall, throughout Nigeria's unbeaten run (5-0) in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, Okonkwo was the heart -and-soul of the D'Tigresses, averaging a team-high of 17.2 points while contributing 8.2 rebounds per game.

"Along the way, Okonkwo became the only Nigeria to register two double-doubles (Murjanatu Musa registered one).

"A heroic welcome awaits them, as I, my House Committee on Sports memeber and well-meaning Nigerians will be at the airport to welcome them."

Saturday's trump, means D’Tigress will compete for a spot at the women’s basketball event of the 2024 Olympics.

Sports Minister Extols Leadership Qualities of Musa Kida

The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare on Monday extolled the leadership qualities of NBBF Caretaker Chairman Engr Ahmadu Musa Kida, describing him a passionate lover of basketball leading to his land breaking achievements in the Federation within the last four years. 

The Minister who spoke at victory party organized for  the senior national women basketball  team D'Tigress at the Afrobasketball Championship in Cameroon.

 He said the qualities of Engr Musa Kida will further be needed to place the sport in an enviable position worldwide. That winning three trophies in four years is a commendable feat. 

Nigeria's D'Tigress beat Mali on Sunday to emerge African Champions for the third consecutive time, affirming their position as the African queens of the court. 

Speaking further, the Minister who described the victory of the D'Tigeress as an Independence gift to the country,  appreciated and congratulated the team and the entire Nigeria Basketball Federation(NBBF)family under the leadership of Engineer Musa Kida for their feat.

"You have their story, you have their history and you have their journey so far," Sunday Dare opened up to the gathering, "The journey actually took them to the Olympics. Even after the Olympics. The ladies dusted themselves up and they showed that fire in Cameroon.

"I want to congratulate them for winning the Afrobasketball trophy and that is gold, you can see the Golden Cup here for third consecutive time.

"They have shown a rare dominance, the dominance of the women basketball terrain by D'Tigress from the African continent, I can say it's now undisputable. We have seen how they are also blending the home based players with the foreign players that is the DNA of our Sports as a country whether it is basketball or football, that blend always works for us.

"I want to thank each and every player, those that went to the Olympics, those that went to Senegal and those that went to Cameroon, that entire team has always done this country proud and I know that they have more victories ahead of them.

"I also thank them for putting Nigeria on the global map of basketball, the same goes to D'Tigers. I can now say that Nigeria is truly a basketball nation.

"We are happy that this is also a benefitting present to Mr President Muhammadu Buhari and the entire country as we are about to celebrate the 61st Independence Day Anniversary." Dare concluded.

Sports Minister hails unstoppable D'Tigress for Afrobasket triumph

Sunday Dare, the Youth and Sports Development Minister has poured encomiums on Nigeria's senior women basketball team- D'Tigress for their victory at the 2021 Afrobasketball championships in Cameroon.

The Nigerian ladies, now African queens of the court, captured their third consecutive Afrobasketball championships title on Sunday after beating Mali by 70-59 in the final.

The performance of D'Tigress was so dominant all through the championships that many bookmakers had tipped them to retained their crown even before today's final.

An elated Sports Minister Sunday Dare said Nigeria's victory is confirmation of her dominance of the sport in Africa.

"Clearly now Nigeria's dominance of the sport is indisputable. This is the evidence that Nigeria's women basketball can be ranked as a World class programme. We have to sustain this momentum. This is remarkable, winning the Afrobasketball Championships for an unprecedented third time.

"I salute the team(D'Tigress) for their professional commitment and execution. They have done the nation proud and maintained the positive results we have achieved in sports in the last few weeks." Dare said.

In the last ten weeks, Nigeria has had a lot to cheer in international sports competitions, winning nineteen medals from the Olympics, Paralympics and the World U20 Athletics Championships and now capturing gold for the third consecutive time in the Women Afrobasketball Championships.

Afrobasket 2021: Sports Minister celebrates D'Tigress' final berth

Youth and Sports Development Minister Sunday Dare has congratulated Nigeria's senior women basketball team, D'Tigress for qualifying for the final of the 2021 Afrobasket women championship in  Cameroon.

D'Tigress defeated their Senegalese opponents 73-63 in Friday night's semifinals to book a place in their third consecutive finals.

The Youth and Sports Minister commended the team for their superlative performance in the tournament and praised them for doing the nation proud.

The Minister urged the team to crown what has been a remarkable tournament with  victory in the final so that their status as the 'Queens of the   Court' on the African continent  can be confirmed.

The defending champions will face Mali in the final after the Malians defeated the hosts  Cameroon 52-51 in the other semi final game.

Fidelity Bank Boosts Basketball Teams with N15 Million

Nigeria's National Basketball Teams D' Tigers and  D' Tigress quest for Olympics medal has been given further boost  by  another corporate organization Fidelity Bank.

The bank has extended support  to the male and female  National Basketball teams by doling  out USD30,000 (about N15 million). 

Following a pitch by the Minister of Youth and sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare,  Access Bank, Zenith Bank and Guarantee Trust Bank  had collectively given USD200,000 to the team last week.

The Banks gesture followed appeal by the Minister for corporates Bodies  to adopt athletes and teams, even as the male team, D’Tigers climbed to world’s number four position following  their impressive win over top ranked United States.

The USD30,000 is to be jointly shared by D’Tigers and the female team, D’Tigress.

The Minister said the gesture  will spur the teams to perform well in Tokyo.

The Minister had also intervened to secure the release of the team's kits at the Port.

Signed

Media office of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development

NBBF targets Tokyo 2020 3x3 participation

The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engineer Musa Kida is excited at the possibility of Nigeria participating in the FIBA certified 3x3 event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic.