July, 29 2023.
The players and officials of the Nation's senior women's basketball national team, D'Tigress are observing today (Saturday) as the first official rest-day; after Friday’s 69-75 thumping victory over Congo Democratic Republic, who are rated 10th on the Continent.
Next for D'Tigress of Nigeria who are the No.1 ranked team in Africa is their second and final Group D tie against Africa's 4th ranked team, Egypt on Sunday, July 30th, 2023.
In Game other games played at the BK Arena in Kigali on Friday, the beaten finalists in 2021, Mali roared back from a 16-19 first-quarter deficit; to outclass Uganda 21-14, 21-16, 22-17 to win their Group A opener 80-66.
Host county, Rwanda literally pummeled Côte d'Ivoire 64-35; by taking a 14-7 first-quarter lead, only for the Ivorians to tie the second quarter of the Group A opener 14-14; before falling behind again in the last two quarters - 24-8 and 12-6.
The action continues today (Saturday), with four more fixtures on the card, at the Kigali Arena.
Egypt and DR Congo will face off in Group D, which also houses Nigeria, that encounter tips off at 11 am; before Mozambique takes on Guinea at 2 pm Nigerian time; next is the encounter between Uganda and powerhouse Senegal at 5 pm; whilst Côte d'Ivoire will be on Court at 8 pm to test the might of Angola.
The last game of Day-1 saw the Lionesses of Cameroun edge their Mozambican counterpart 55-53, in what is arguably the match of the day.
Meanwhile, estranged Head Coach of the D'Tigress, Otis Hughley says he is pained by the decision of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to sack him unceremoniously.
Hughley said after steering the team to win two titles at a bounce in Senegal 2019, and in Cameroun 2021; he was looking forward to a three-peat of titles for himself and a record-equaling fourth triumph for the team.
The American said it was saddening to find out from the media that he had been sacked, after he had asked the NBBF to formalize his contract, ahead of the championship.
Hughley also said the decision of the NBBF to circumvent the process of formally securing the release of top players in the diaspora, is responsible for the absence of several key players, from the D'Tigress roster.
Some of the top players absent in Kigali are Adaora Elonu, the team’s captain to the 2021 Afrobasket triumph in Cameroun; Promise Amukamara and Ezinne Kalu.
The others are Victoria Macaulay, Ify Ibekwe, Oderah Chidom, and Nicole Enabosi. The quartet featured also featured at the 2021 competition; but opted not to take part in the controversial tryouts, held by the NBBF in the USA and in Nigeria.
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