D’Tigress hunt for AAG, Nations Cup tickets

However, their women counterparts, D’Tigress are yet to sail through as they will be taking part in the qualifiers in Cote d’Ivoire from May 28 to June 6.
Already, D’Tigress are intensifying their preparations for the qualifying games.
The girls jump started their preparations towards qualification for both events on 10th May when the team opened camp at the Abuja National Stadium.
At the moment, the team is now training twice a day to perfect tactics against their opponents in the Zone 2 qualifier.
Unlike their male counterparts who only played a two-legged qualifier against Burkina Faso to secure the two tickets, the girls will have to survive a round robin qualifier.
The President of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Tijani Umar said “it’s a joint preliminaries; Afrobasket and All Africa Games. It is going to be round robin and we have to get there to confirm the number of teams.”
The number of teams to be involved is not clear yet but Nigeria will probably lock horns against; Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia and others in the same Zone.
“We are not worried, we are ready to play any number of countries. We don’t know what the numbers is but no matter what the number is, this team is ready to play them,” Umar boasted.
The NBBF President has the bragging rights as Nigeria is well placed high above all other countries competing for the tickets, in the FIBA ranking.
Speaking in the same vein, a member of the NBBF board, Patrick Omorodion affirmed that “the team is preparing very well and we are very hopeful that we should be able to pick the tickets.”
He affirmed that the Nigerian female team is better ranked than any of those to contend with for the tickets.
“When we talk about basketball in Africa in the female category, we talk of Senegal, we talk of Nigeria, we talk of Mozambique and Angola. Those are the teams to beat.
“In our own zone, I think we should be able to qualify. I’m not underrating the other teams because if you don’t prepare well, you won’t be able to perform but I know that the kind of preparations they are getting right now, and judging from the outcome of the first phase of the Zenith league, where some good players were selected to join the foreign based, I think we have a good chance of picking the tickets.”
Six foreign based players are in for the games, with nine home based players battling for the starting line up in the team.
Their greatest weapons however, are their foreign stars, though the coaching crew would go on to downplay such obvious fact.
Head Coach of the team, Adewunmi Aderemi said both the foreign and home based players are equally good.
“The only advantage with the foreign based players is that most of them are playing in better clubs with some playing in Spain, Tunisia and are more exposed than others who are playing the Zenith League in Nigeria.”
He expressed optimism that with the caliber of players in camp, the country will earn the double tickets.
“Everything we need to make sure we prepare well and qualify have been provided.”
One of the foreign stars to watch out for is Adaora Elonu, a prolific power forward who plays for CB Conquero in Spain.
The team’s captain, Helen Ogunjimi who last played for Bandar Abbas in Iran is the mover and shaker of the team. She motivates the team and drives the girls forward.
Another star to look out for is Ndidi Madu who is based in the USA but plays in Spain with Cadi La Seu. She knows her way into the basket.
Speaking with SHOT ahead of the qualifier, Elonu expressed optimism that it is going to be a smooth sail for the team.
“Hopefully, we will qualify but I have not played with the team too long. So, I don’t know our potential but I think that with the people we have here and when we practice more and get to know one another, I can have a better idea.”
She added: “We are training hard, we are training to win, only time will tell.”
Similarly, Madu said: “I think we are prepared. We have been putting in our best and we have been in the training camp for a while now.
“No question, we will definitely survive the qualifier and get the tickets.”
She said the passion of the girls and their team work will see them through.
“Everybody brings something different to the team and we are all playing together and I think we will be successful at the qualifier,” Madu added.
On her part, captain of the team said: “Everybody is coming in with a lot of excitement and positive attitude and it’s been a great atmosphere. It’s been good so far and I’m satisfied.”
The Shooting guard said the team will pick the tickets judging by the hard work the girls are presently putting in.
Meanwhile, the home-based girls are no push overs. Their exhibition of strength and power complements the flair of their foreign-based partners.
Be that as it may, the pressure is on the Nigerian girls to perform and emulate their male counterparts to get the slots for the two events.
As the defending champions at the AAG, the onus is on them to show their superiority.
The Federation said all that is needed to secure the tickets have been put in place, the claim which the team acknowledged.
It is therefore left to be seen if D’Tigress will be part of Afrobasket women’s championship in Cameroun and All Africa Games in Congo.