BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare has described D’Tigress’ victory at the Afrobasketball Championship in Cameroon as a worthy Independence Anniversary Day gift to Nigerians and the nation.
The national senior women basketball team defeated Mali 70-59 in the final match on Sunday to emerge African Champions for the third consecutive time, affirming their position as African Queens of the court.
Dare, who hosted the victorious team at the VIP Lounge of Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Monday, said; “We are happy that this is also a benefitting present to President Muhammadu Buhari and the entire country as we are about to celebrate our 61st Independence Day Anniversary.”
The Sports Minister commended the players and the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) family led by Engineer Musa Kida for their outstanding feat at the tournament.
He said; “You have their story, you have their history and you have their journey so far,” Sunday Dare opened up to the gathering, The journey actually took them to the Olympics. The ladies dusted themselves up and they showed that fire in Cameroon.
“I want to congratulate them for winning the Afrobasketball trophy and that is gold, you can see the Golden Cup here for the third consecutive time.”
According to him; “They have shown a rare dominance. I can say it’s now indisputable. We have seen how they are also blending the home-based players with the foreign players. That is the DNA of our Sports as a country whether it is basketball or football, that blend always works for us.
“I want to thank each and every player, those that went to the Olympics, those that went to Senegal, and those that went to Cameroon, that entire team has always done this country proud, and I know that they have more victories ahead of them.
“I also thank them for putting Nigeria on the global map of basketball, the same goes to D’Tigers. I can now say that Nigeria is truly a basketball nation.”
