D’Tigress Coach Invites 18 For 2023 Afrobasket Championship
The newly appointed head coach of Nigeria’s Senior Women’s Basketball Team (D’Tigress), Rena Wakama, has invited 18 players for the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship.
Nigeria would be camped in Abuja ahead of the Women’s AfroBasket Championship, which begins on July 28th – 6th August, 2023, in Kigali, Rwanda. The 12-nation championship will also serve as qualifications for the FIBA World Championship, scheduled to hold in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
D’Tigress’ team features players plying their trade outside Nigeria and five others from First Bank, MFM and Customs Basketball Clubs in the domestic league. The home based players that made the cut are MFM’s Hembam Wandoo, Akaraiwe Nkem Uwa of Nigeria Customs, as well as First Bank trio of Murjanatu Musa Linan, Mac-Dangusi Theresa and Theresa Ebiega.
18 players have invited for the Senior Women’s Basketball team camping exercise in preparation for @afrobasketwomen #NBBF #DTigress pic.twitter.com/Izd41t3lQg
— #NBBF (@nbbfonline) July 17, 2023
Plying their trade outside the shores of Nigeria are Toyosi Abiola -PG- Eastern (Michigan University, USA); Tomi Taiwo -PG- (Texas Christian University, USA). Also, Onaibe Believe Jessica -PG- (ASPAC, Benin Republic); Okoro Ifunaya -CG- (KPA, Kenya); Sarah Ogoke -SG- (Ferroviario, Mozambique).
Also Elizabeth Balogun -F- (Duke Blue Devils, USA); Mariam Olawoyin -F- (Chipola College, USA); Adeyeye Adebola -F- (Kentucky Wilscats, USA); Amanda Okodugba -F- (Grindavik, Iceland) and Amy Okonkwo -F- (Halcones, Mexico); Lix Dixon -F- Connecticut, (WNBA, USA).
Also Pallas Akpanah -PF- (Campobassi, Italy); Olawuyi Adenike Olayemi -PF/C- Pea (University, Hungary Lorine Ebo Notre Dame, USA) and Blessing Ejiofor, (Western Virginia University, USA).
D’Tigress would be going for its sixth title, having won three in a row in the past Afrobasket continental showpiece. New Head Coach Wakama will be assisted by Sotiminu Samson, Juli Negedu, Prince Eazela and Aisha Mohammed.