Buhari Celebrates D’Tigress’ Continental Basketball Title
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigeria’s female basketball team, D’Tigress, for dusting all opposition to capture the 2017 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket crown in Mali.
With the well-deserved victory, the team has also qualified for the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup holding in Spain. Coming after 12 years, the victory is the third time D’Tigress are emerging the African champions.
President Buhari’s message, signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina on Monday in Abuja, joined all sports-loving Nigerians to applaud the D’Tigress heroic showing that took the Championship by storm as they outlasted their Senegalese opponents in the final match on Sunday.
He lauded the players for displaying “uncommon strength, confidence, skill and dexterity in their victory over the defending champions.’’
The President however challenged the team and its handlers to remain focused and dedicated as they stepped up preparations for greater glory at the 2018 FIBA World Cup tournament.
He assured the team, its managers and the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) of his support and that of the federal government towards ensuring they excel against other top competitors in Spain.
In one of the best-ever comeback in African basketball history, Nigeria’s D’Tigress overcame defending champions Senegal 65-48 in an astonishing victory run to finish the tourney undefeated.
