1 month ago
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Nigeria Sports Minister, John Enoh has hailed the impact Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, made at the 2024 Olympics even though they didn’t make it to the final.
The D’Tigress had a fair run in the group stage in which they defeated Australia and Canada following a slim defeat to the 2024 Olympics hosts, France.
With that, coach Rena Wakama and her girls qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2024 Olympics, making Nigeria the first African country to make it that far in the tournament.
Unfortunately, they were paired to face the highest-ranked women’s basketball team, the United States, in the round of 16. After a dogged fight from both teams, the American women came out victorious with 74 – 88.
Hours after the D’Tigress ended their journey in the 2024 Olympics gallantly, John Enoh took to his official X page to applaud them.
He wrote: “Our athletes are giving their best and making us proud. D’Tigress made the nation proud, and there’s no shame in losing to the world’s number 1 ranked team. They struck a high note and made a statement even at the quarterfinal match with 74 – 88. The first African team ever to get to the quarter-finals, they have moved four ranks up on the power ranking table. We are proud of them. Their games have been spectacular.”
The sports minister also acknowledged the performance of cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye, Uchenna Ogazi, who made it to the final of the men’s 400m event, and Favour Ofili, who made it to the women’s 200m final, as he urged Nigerians to keep supporting the athletes who are still in the competition.
John Enoh wrote: “Ese Ukpeseraye was the only African cyclist amongst the 30 cyclists at the Olympics. Uchenna Ogazi, after 36 years, made the finals of the men’s 400m race, and Favour Ofili had a good run and has shown great dexterity. Let’s keep rooting for our athletes.”
Note that Team Nigeria is yet to win any medal at the 2024 Olympics so far.
English (US) ·