Nigeria’s female basketball national team, D’Tigress have set in motion their busy summer build-up to this year’s FIBA Women’s World Cup, following their arrival in Haikou, China, where they will play three international friendlies.
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Sports247 reports that expectations are high that D’Tigress will get a thorough test ahead of the FIBA World Cup, as they take on the number four ranked side in global ratings, the prospects of which are already exciting the president of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engineer Ahmad Musa Kida.
The NBBF’s top shot enthused that playing a disciplined and highly rated Chinese side in front of a massive home crowd and huge television audience will help the Nigerians get used to the kind of tensed environment they will face at the Mundial.
Kida also pointed out that Nigeria stands to gain immense commercial and promotional values from live broadcast of the games nationwide via China Media Group, thereby placing D’Tigress squarely in front of one of the largest and most vibrant sports audiences in the world.
Chairman of the NBBF’s sponsorship and marketing committee, Ugo Udezue also described the mission to China as a huge benefit for the federation, their corporate partners and the players, for whom this tour is the second stage of a five-stop preparation programme titled ‘Road to Berlin.’
NBBF’s egg heads stated that the rigorous schedule is specifically designed to prepare the reigning five-time consecutive African champions for the FIBA Women’s World Cup, which will take place in Berlin, Germany from September 4th to 13th.
D’Tigress’ coach, Rena Wakama and her players had the opening phase of their build-up in USA from July 29th to August 2nd, while the next stage will be in Haikou and Foshan, China from August 3rd to 14th, after their arrival directly from Chicago aboard the NBBF’s airline partner, XEJet.
Phase 3 will be in Tenerife, Spain from August 15th to 24th, with games planned against their hosts and Belgium, to be followed by Phase 4 in the same country, as they move to Zaragoza from August 25th to September 3rd for final tune-up games against Mali and Puerto Rico.
That will take them to the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany from September 4th to 13th, where D’Tigress will play in Group B against Korea Republic (September 4th), Hungary (September 5) and France (September 7th).
