D’Tigress power forward Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah has expressed excitement ahead of Nigeria’s high-profile preparation games against top WNBA teams, describing the opportunity as a crucial step toward the upcoming World Championships.
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Nigeria’s women’s national team is set to face Los Angeles Sparks on April 25, Minnesota Lynx on April 27, and Indiana Fever on May 2, a challenging schedule that promises to test the team’s readiness.
Reacting to the fixtures, Kunaiyi-Akpanah described the experience as both exciting and necessary.
“It’s a great opportunity,” she said.
For the forward, facing some of the best players in the world will help the team elevate its performance and gain valuable experience ahead of the global tournament.
“We want to test ourselves,” she implied.
Nigeria, placed in Pot 2 for the World Championships, will be aiming to build on its recent successes, and these matches are seen as a key part of that preparation.
Kunaiyi-Akpanah emphasized that beyond physical preparation, the games will also strengthen the team’s mentality.
“It helps us handle pressure,” she noted.
She added that competing against elite opposition will allow the coaching staff to refine tactics and improve overall team cohesion.
“We will perfect our game plan,” she stressed.
For D’Tigress, the upcoming tour represents more than just friendly games, it is an opportunity to measure themselves against the very best and identify areas for improvement.
As anticipation builds, fans will be eager to see how the team performs on such a big stage.
But for Kunaiyi-Akpanah, the focus is clear.
Learn.
Improve.
Compete.
Because in elite sport, preparation defines success.
