D’Tigress: Coach and Players Call on NBBF to Leverage Olympic Success

Basketball fans have called on the Nigeria Basketball Federation to capitalize on the impressive performance of the senior women's basketball team, D’Tigress, at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Despite facing tough competition from higher-ranked teams like Australia, France, and Canada in the Women’s Basketball Tournament, René Wakama’s squad defied the odds to advance from the group stage.

They began their campaign with a surprising 75-54 win over Australia, marking their first Olympic victory in two decades. They then lost to France by the same margin in their second game but bounced back with a 79-70 win over Canada in their final group match, securing a spot in the quarterfinals. This achievement made them the first African team, whether male or female, to advance past the group stage in Olympic basketball history.

Though the United States ended their journey in the quarterfinals, the team gained widespread admiration and respect, including from their competitors, taking pride in their accomplishments. René Wakama was named the best coach of the Women’s Basketball Tournament, and New Jersey-born point guard Ezinne Kalu earned a spot on the All-Second Team. Basketball coach Stephen John remarked, “D’Tigress’ performance at the Olympics was outstanding and they deserve all the recognition they received. The NBBF should now focus on building on this success.”

A former Kwara Falcons player, who wished to remain anonymous due to concerns about retaliation, added, “It’s unfortunate that the federation might try to claim credit for the team’s success in Paris, despite their lack of preparation. The team did exceptionally well, proving their capabilities, and it’s crucial that we build on this success. The federation needs to take the necessary steps to ensure continued growth and competitiveness.”

Theresa Michael commented, “As a female basketball player, I’m thrilled with what D’Tigress achieved, but we must not rest on our laurels. The players deserve proper compensation and motivation to keep improving, and for those of us in Nigeria, it’s important to reinstate the league to support our development.”