Ahmedu commends D’Tigress for winning fifth Afrobasket title

Retired Col. Sam Ahmedu, a member of the FIBA Africa Executive Committee, has commended Nigeria’s national women basketball team for winning the FIBA women’s Afrobasket title for a record fifth time.

The Nigerian team also known as D’Tigress defeated Mali, 78-64, on Sunday at the Palais des Sports, Treichville, Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire for the title.

Ahmedu, also the President of FIBA Africa Zone 3, said in a statement on Monday in Abidjan that the Nigerian team had been consistent in their dominance of Africa due to the dedication and commitment of the players in these past years.

“In addition to earlier Afrobasket Championship victories in 2003 and 2005, and since the D’Tigres defeated Angola in a third place game in Cameroon in 2015, they have not lost any game against any African opposition.

“Thus, the team has remained unbeaten in 29 games, with an unprecedented fifth FIBA Women’s Afrobasket title’’ he said. Ahmedu, also a board member of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), said D’Tigress showed resilience in all games played in Côte d’Ivoire.

“The team started slowly in a couple of games but picked themselves up on all occasions. In some games, they started slowly but picked themselves up when it mattered most, finishing each game on a high note,’’ he said.

According to Ahmedu, the D’Tigress has set a record in Africa and believes the team will go places.

“I wish them good luck as they prepare for the FIBA Women’s World Cup,’’ he added.

Nigeria, Mali, Senegal and South Sudan will participate in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers next year.