ABUJA (2011 Afrobasket Women) - The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has jump-started the preparations of its Women's National Team, D’Tigress ahead of the 2011 Afrobasket by calling up fourteen home-based players.
The team will have a two-days drills in Abuja with Coach Ayo Bakare leading the technical crew and Patrick Omo-Osagie and former Nigeria senior national team captain and forward, Mfon Udoka as assistances.
The players were mainly selected from the three top clubs participating in the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League, with First Bank of Lagos accounting for eight out of the fourteen selected playeers.
Defending champions First Deepwtaer has had four of its players called up, while Sunshine Angels basketball club has two.
Called up from First Bank BC: Grace Okonkwo (centre), Oluchi Nzekwe (guard), White Patience (guard), Vera Ellong (guard), Magdalene (guard), Nike Dawodu (forward), Sandra German (guard) and ImaObong Akpan (guard)
From First Deepwater BC: Atosu Upe (guard), Kelechi Obasi (forward), Nkeci Akashili (guard), Blessing Emmanuel (guard)
Sunshine Angels: Rebecca Iritei (guard) and Korede Sosanya (forward)
Nigeria won golds medals at Afrobasket 2003 in Mozambique and 2005 in Nigeria as well as at the 8th All Africa Games, also in Nigeria (2003).
Head Coach, Bakare said that he intends the team to return the country to winning ways and restablish its authority within African basketball and the world in general.
By: Olusegun Ikuesan
FIBA