BEVERLY HILLS, August 28, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Nigeria’s National Female Basketball team, D’Tigress, on winning the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament in Mali and qualifying for the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Spain.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina,tThe President commended the players for displaying uncommon strength, confidence, skill and dexterity in their victory over the defending champions.
He joined Nigerians in saluting the heroic performance of the victorious D’Tigress over their Senegalese counterpart in the final of the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament on Sunday and urged members of the team and their handlers to remain focused and dedicated even as they prepare for greater glory to Nigeria at the forthcoming FIBA World Cup.
The President assured the team, its managers and the Nigeria Basketball Federation of his support and that of the Federal Government to ensure that they excel against other top competitors in Spain.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung will officially receive the victorious D’Tigress in the Minister’s conference room, Federal Secretariat, phase 11, Abuja at 3pm on Tuesday.
The Minister commended the players for truly exemplifying the true Nigerian spirit which always thrives in the face of adversity assuring that the team will be presented the President at a date to be announced soon.
“We congratulate DTigress, the technical crew and the entire management of the Nigeria Basketball Federation for winning the 2017 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket trophy. You not only broke a 12 year old draught but also won a ticket to the World Cup next year,” he stated.
“This cannot be ascribed to luck but weeks of hard work, planning and strategizing by the board, technical crew and the players. We also applaud the wrestlers for winning silver at the World championship.
“We are aware of the fact that the road to becoming the African Champions and booking a ticket to the World Cup was never easy. The federal government salutes these brave girls who have written Nigeria’s name on the global map once again after 12 years.
“These successes we are recording are the products of the reforms. If you look at what is happening now, every sport has been gingered up. This has been exemplified by the zeal and commitment of the new federations’ leadership.”
