Though Nigeria’s female basketball national team could only place eighth overall at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Tenerife, Spain, folowing defeat by Canada in last weekend’s classification match, D’Tigress have been hailed by the global body.
In the wake of Nigeria’s 73-72 loss to Canada, accolades rolled out for D’Tigress for reaching a spot previously unprecedented by any Afrrican team and FIBA president, Horacio Muratore.
Muhare acknowledged that Nigeria’s D’Tigress were the revelation of the just concluded championship, where they finished as the eight best team in the world.
Until this championship, no African side had crossed the group stage of the competition, but D’Tigress broke the jinx when they reached the last eight.
En route to that feat, they defeated better-rated Turkey, Greece and Argentina, but eventually lost narrowly to defending champions, USA in the quarter-finals and then to Canada to end up in the eighth position.
In the game played at San Cristobal de la Laguna arena, Canada took the lead 21 to 17 in the first quarter, but Nigeria clawed back in the second, making 19 points to the opponent’s nine.
The third quarter was tied at 19 points apiece before the Canadians edged the game in the fourth quarter with 24 points to Nigeria’s 18 to end the game 73 to 72.
Evelyn Akhator was the leader for D’Tigress, with 13 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and a +16 efficiency.
On the other side, Canada’s Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe led her team with +16 efficiency, 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal.
Muratore, who also noted that Senegal also showed a promising outing for Africa as well, paid glowing tribute to D’Tigress for their efforts in reaching the quarter-finals and for putting up a gallant performance against the defending champions, USA.
Muratore declared: “One of the best story lines of this Women’s World Cup without a doubt will be that Africa proved it has some very good teams in Nigeria and Senegal.
“These are teams that can play against anyone and I congratulate both of them for their campaigns.
“Senegal had a historic win (against Latvia) and a great game against Spain (in Wednesday’s Quarter-Final Qualifications).
“They made the tournament hosts tremble a bit. It would have been amazing for both African teams to reach the Quarter-Finals.
“Nigeria outplayed the USA – the reigning world champions – in the first half of Friday’s Quarter-Final and got wins over Turkey, Argentina and Greece.
“This is extremely positive for African basketball and for the sport in general.”
