Following the victory of Nigeria’s female basketball team, D’ Tigress in the recently concluded 2017 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship in Mali, President Muhammadu Buhari will receive the female national team in a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting today in Abuja.
Speaking at the Abuja National Stadium on Tuesday, Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Youth and Sports, disclosed that the reception for the new African women basketball champions will be in further appreciation of the team’s victorious effort.
On Sunday, the women senior national basketball team had won the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship at Bamako in Mali after beating defending champions Senegal in the final quarter.
“Becoming Women’s AfroBasket champions after 12 years is an achievement worthy of celebration.
“Winning the African Championship for the third time establishes you (Nigeria) as a force to reckon with in African basketball.
“I am convinced that this will boost your confidence to perform well at the World Championship in Spain in 2018,’’ Dalung said.
Dalung also said the victory helped to give extra weight to his belief that “when we do things the right way, we will always get the right results’’
The minister recalled that he and the ministry came under a lot of criticism when they embarked on some reforms.
“However, getting the governance structure of National Sports Federations right was key to success in sports,’’ he said.
The President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel, had earlier praised the team for its performance, pledging his support for the team.
“I look forward to seeing the team perform better at the World Cup in Spain in 2018.
“But I will advise you all to continue training to maintain this quality standard of play at the World Cup,’’ he said.
President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida, while presenting the team to Dalung, had said passion, hard work and commitment helped the team to win the competition.
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