Nigeria’s Ndidi Madu dazzles against Egypt during the 2015 AfroBasket in Cameroon. She is also in the squad to this year’s edition which kicks off today in Bamako, Mali.
NIGERIA’S D’Tigress begin their campaign in the 23rd FIBA Women’s AfroBasket today in Bamako, Mali against their counterparts from Mozambique in one of the group B matches.
The finalists at Mali 2017 will represent Africa at Spain 2018 World Cup.
According to the schedule on the FIBA website, 11-time winners, Senegal will tackle Guinea in the opening match billed for 9.30am local time, while Congo DR face Egypt in the second game at 11.45am.
Cote d’Ivoire confront Central African Republic at 2.00pm to be followed by Nigeria/Mozambique match at 4.15pm.
Hosts Mali will clash with Tunisia at 8.00pm while Angola take on Cameroon in the last match of the opening day at 10.15pm.
Nigeria will be parading six members of the 2015 bronze winning squad at Mali 2017 under a returnee coach, Sam Vincent.
The other opponents of D’Tigress in group B are defending champions, Senegal, Egypt, Guinea and Congo DR.
Interestingly, the leadership tussle in the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), may have affected the preparations of D’Tigress, but the team still had four friendlies [twice against Raptors of Lagos] before their departure to Mali during the week.
The two factions of NBBF had announced separate lists of invited players for camping under different coaches, before the one released by the Musa Kida-led faction eventually became the authentic list.
However, coach Vincent is optimistic about the ability of D’Tigress to rule the continent for the third time after victories in 2003 and 2005.
“I think this team is ready to go and fight for the podium. The girls have worked very hard and are ready for the opposition that would come our way. Nigeria is not new to AfroBasket.
“We are well prepared for the championship right from the camping in the United States down to Lagos. Mozambique are a very good side while Mali as hosts will also be difficult but we have a good team. We only need to stay together and play as a team. There is nothing to worry about. I definitely feel we can do it again. I feel like this is a great team that can live up to expectations in Mali,” said the 54-year-old Vincent who led D’Tigress to win the AfroBasket title in 2005.
“I like the way the team is working right now,” Vincent said after his team’s first training session in Bamako on Thursday. “We feel good about the roster. The players are experienced and we have got post players, shooters and we are solid on defence.”
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