D’Tigress set to defend Afrobasket title in Yaoundé

Nigeria’s senior women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, are expected to arrive in Yaoundé, Cameroun, today, ahead of their Afrobasket title defence, which begins on Saturday.

D’Tigress will open their title defence against Mozambique on Saturday and face Angola on Monday.

According to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), the 13 players have been preparing for the competition under the watchful eyes of Coach Otis Hughley.

The Nigerian side have been the dominant African team in the last four years, winning back-to-back Afrobasket titles in 2017 and 2019 and aiming to win it for the third straight time.

Elizabeth Balogun makes a return to the team alongside Promise Amukamara, Ezinne Kalu, Pallas Kunayi-Akpannah and Ifunanya Ibekwe.
Nkem Akaraiwe has also been listed alongside Amy Okonkwo, who is set to make her Afrobasket debut with Oderah Chidom, Nicole Enabosi and Murjanatu Musa.

Sarah Ogoke, who is one of the most senior members of the team, returns with Victoria Macaulay to the team captained by Adaora Elonu.

The 13-man list will be pruned down to 12 before the commencement of the championship.

Since Musa Kida took over as NBBF President, the team has emerged as the number one team in Africa on the back of a 13-match unbeaten run, which has produced two Afrobasket titles.