D’Tigress kick off FIBA World Cup campaign in Spain

Nigeria women’s basketball team, D’Tigress will start their 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup campaign on Saturday when they face Australia by 11:30am Nigerian time.

The African Champions had had weeks of training which started in Atlanta and ended in Turkey, and are set to begin their race to the title at the tournament billed to hold from September 22 – 30 in Spain.

D’Tigress who are ranked 34th in the world by FIBA will square up against world number 4, Australia at the San Cristobal de La Laguna, Santiago Martin Arena in Tenerife.

Without any previous record of meeting, both sides’ target will be starting the tournament on a strong note.

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Reacting before the game, D’Tigress Head coach Otis Hughley said: “We were born ready for this. There is no point in coming to such events like this just to add to the numbers.

“We have done what we should have done within the time allowed for training and the general consensus in the team is that we are good to go.”

Team captain, Adaora Elonu also said the team is not under pressure heading into their first game, as she promised that the ladies are determined to do their best at the global showpiece.

Meanwhile, Evelyn Akhator told NBBF media: “In 2017, nobody believed we could win the Afrobasket in Mali. It is our time to prove to the world that Nigeria is not a pushover.”

The team will be hoping to make history as the first African team to win a world cup match and also record their first victory at the world stage.

 

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