A key member of Nigeria’s historic winning D’Tigress’ squad at the recent African Women’s Senior Basketball Championship (AfroBasket 2025) in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Sarah Ogoke has revealed five factors that keep her going strong – discipline, resilience, determination, hard work and focus.
Sports247 reports that Ogoke was seen holding her baby after each match at the competition in Palais des Sports de Treichville as well as on arrival back home at the airport, which means she has been able to successfully mix basketball with motherhood.
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Along the line, the graduate of Biology at Southern Polytechnic State University in Georgia, USA revealed that she still practises as a medical surgeon and still creates time for her regular basketball training sessions.
Ogoke, who was born in The Bronx, New York, was part of all five back-to-back AfroBasket titles clinched by D’Tigress (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025), but she took time out after the last one to become a mother, the product of which she proudly flaunts anywhere she goes.
Dramatically, the 35-year-old shooting guard, who also attended Pittsburgh University and is still registered as a player with Ferroviario de Maputo of Mozambique, was also in the Nigerian female basketball teams that won bronze at the Africa Games of 2011 in Maputo and silver at the next edition in 2015.
For sports lovers, who would wonder how she is able to keep playing and shining, in spite of her busy schedules, Ogoke disclosed: “I’m just built differently!”
She adds, “Generally, Nigerian women are built to be different. That’s why we do amazing things and we do the impossible.
“But, beyond that, my secret is nothing short of discipline, resilience, determination, hard work and focus.
“I’m still a practising surgeon, but I’m using my vacation days to be with the team. My job is waiting for me when I get back.”
Sports247 gathered that Ogoke is not ready to quit just yet, as she aims to be part of the Nigerian squad to next year’s FIBA World Women’s Senior Championship as well as the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA.
