Despite their 74-88 defeat to the United States in the quarter-finals, Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have received high praise from the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) for their remarkable performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
SWAN President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, in a statement through the association’s Secretary-General, Ambassador Ikenna Okonkwo, highlighted the team’s exceptional achievement, which included victories over top basketball nations like Australia and Canada. He underscored the significance of their performance and recommended that the team be honored with National Honors or a Special Reception.
Benjamin praised D’Tigress for their achievements, including their unprecedented success in the Afrobasket tournament, where they won four consecutive titles. He emphasised that their Olympic performance, particularly reaching the quarter-final stage, showcased their quality and resilience. He noted that this was a historic milestone, as D’Tigress became the first African basketball team—male or female—to advance to the Olympic quarter-finals.
“As those who go beyond watching matches and competitions, the Sporting Media both in Nigeria and in other parts of the world, have been following and analysing the performance of our Women Basketball Team with the various Stakeholders attesting to how prolific D’Tigress have been even before the Paris Olympics.
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“The team have actually conquered Africa by winning Afrobasket tournament four times in a row which is equivalent to Africa Cup of Nations in football. As a matter of fact, the last continental triumph some months ago was exceptional being that the victorious team was just put together few weeks to the Basketball championship.
“Now, their outing during this year’s Olympics is a further testament of the quality the team exude. Infact, their resilience and passion while in the court are the attributes which should characterise our National values.
“In Paris, they were outstanding in breaking records, including being the first African Basketball team (Male or Female) to reach the quarter-final stage of the Olympics.
“Indeed, they have been delightful to many who like good sporting display. I believe that honouring these girls as Worthy Ambassadors with a Special Reception back in Nigeria won’t be out of place.
“Such recognition will certainly make both the players and technical crew of the team who have shown commitment feel appreciated, and be motivated for more exploits in the future as the Basketball World Cup/Championship and more Continental engagements approach,” he said.
