Julius OkorieCan reigning African Basketball women Champions, D’Tigress of Nigeria, survive the challenge at the forthcoming Olympics where they have been drawn against hosts France, Canada and Australia?
That is the concern of compatriots and lovers of the game after the Coach, Rena Wakama, tutored side lost back to back friendly against Germany and Serbia.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Nigerian ladies are looking forward to the last friendly against Japan in Lille which also promises to be a tough ride before flagging off their Olympic campaign.
The D’Tigress, who have not recorded a win at the Olympics, are dreaming of breaking the jinx at the Games, which runs from July 26- August 11.
In the two friendlies played so far, D’Tigress battled Germany at the UBER Arena in Berlin at the weekend going down 77 to 63. In the second clash against Serbia in Belgrade on Sunday, the team lost 70-62.
During the friendly game against Serbia, the D’Tigress suffered a 6-point deficit in the first quarter as it ended 21-15 in favour of the home team.
The Nigerian ladies then suffered a ten-point deficit into the half-time break as they lost the second quarter 18-14. They drew the third quarter 18-18 and then ended the last quarter with their first lead, 15-13.
READ ALSO: D’Tigress Drawn Against France, Canada, Australia For 2024 Basketball Women’s Olympics
Serbia are two places above Nigeria in the FIBA ranking. D’Tigress qualified for the Olympics for the first time at the Athens Olympics in 2004 where they crashed out in the Group Stage.
The second attempt in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan equally ended in the Group Stage after losing all three matches 81-72 against United States, 87-62 against France, and 102-83 against Japan.
D’Tigress In Another Rematch Against Free-Scoring Japan Wednesday
Interestingly the team will face Japan in their last friendly on Wednesday July 24 in Lille.
Despite the underdog tag of the Nigerian team going into the Games, the team will no doubt be looking to the terrific Amy Okonkwo for inspiration after the forward claimed MVP honors at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2023. She then also impressed in a big way at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Antwerp.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
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