D’Tigress triumph over Aussies help raise morale of ‘Team Nigeria’ in Paris

By Tony Nezieanya

The 75-62 overwhelming victory of D’Tigress over the Australian female Basketball has lifted the ebbing moral of other members of Team Nigeria.

This is a great victory, remarked Engr. Habu Gumel, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

According to him the victory could not have come at a better time than at a moment of low morale in the face of bad news coming in quick succession from the Nigerian camp.

The Table Tennis team through Aruna Quadri and Omotayo Olajide, Fatima Bello, Eden Offing all lost in the round of 64 in the singles.

There was also the losses in boxing. But by far the most dampening was the adverse doping violation by Cynthia Ogunsemilore, 60 kg.

The IOC has since asked that she be ordered to evacuate from the Games’ Village.

 The Falcons also posted two uninspiring results to add to the many woes building up to dampen the enthusiasm in the camp.

”I felt relieved when the basketball victory came to ease off tensíon that was beginning to build,” noted Gumel.

”I congratulate them and extend warm felicitations on account of their right effort to demonstrate focus,” the NOC President said.

Emma Igbonosa, Technical Director, Nigeria Cycling Federation said the Basketball team offered a relief because not many saw the victory coming.

The defeat of Australians was not easy apparently in view of their top ranking as the world number three as against the 16th ranking of the D’Tigress going into the Games.

Opeyori Anuoluwapo, Captain of Team Nigeria said the victory of basketball came in at the nick of time to re- energise other team members