The D’Tigress on Friday qualified for the 2022 FIBA Women
World Cup to be hosted in Australia later in the year after a 67-65 win against
world number five-ranked team, France.
The reigning African Champions had put up a strong
resistance but bowed to the superior power of China in their opening game,
losing 76-90 to the seventh ranked team in the world on Thursday.
However, the team led by Coach Otis Hughley did just enough
in their second game against France as the D’Tigress rallied back from a
17-point deficit in the first quarter to snatch a win and book their second
consecutive world cup outing with a game to spare.
Second quarter saw a more purposeful and dominant D’Tigress
crawl their way back into the game with a 16-10 points win to close the first half
27-38.
Not comfortable with the scores, the team applied more
pressure to win the third quarter 21-14 before another impressive 19-13 points
finish in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Congratulating the ladies, Mr Mark said that the team showed
the true Nigerian spirit by defying the odds to beat the fifth best Women’s
Basketball team in the FIBA rankings.
“Congratulations dear Champions,I have never doubted your
abilities.
“Thank you for putting up a good fight. You have made the
federation proud, the country is proud by your performance.
“You defied every odd to beat one of the best basketball
team in the world, that’s the Nigerian spirit.
“You have conquered one of the best in the world and it is
now time to step it up a notch as we stand solidly behind you in your next game
against Mali. Keep soaring higher,” he said.
Second placed Nigeria will face Mali later today, February
12, while France will hope to bounce back when they meet China. (NAN)
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