D’Tigress forward backs Nigeria for Olympics

Idris Adesina

Women’s national basketball team’s forward,  Adaora Elonu, is confident that Nigeria will qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

 D’Tigress have been drawn  against  Belarus and  South Korea  in  Group C of the FIBA Women’s  Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Nantes,  France.

The 12-team WOQT will run from June 13-19,  and Nigeria will aim  to secure one of the five tickets for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Elonu is a part of the D’Tigress team who  will  begin  a four-week camping in Abuja on Sunday ahead of the tournament in France.

Elonu, who was named in the 2015 AfroBasket Women All-tournament team, said the team would build from their performance at the AfroBasket.

“There are many players on the list that I recognise from previous camps and from playing alongside in the previous assignments, and the other attendees I’m sure will add an interesting and new dynamic to the camp and team,” the 26-year-old told FIBA.com.

“We need to have the mindset that we can and will be successful. It will all start with the camp and preparation. Our focus and outlook leading up to Nantes (will be) vital.

“Belarus and Korea will be looking to do well against us as well, and we will match that. The team that the federation chooses to represent Nigeria should be ready to go by the time we start to compete. It will be an exciting and important journey for the team, and we will treat it as such.

“I can only hope that the team continues to build off of the AfroBasket tournament. This is a different opportunity and different teams, so I just want to play well alongside my teammates if I get the chance. From the list, the team will have girls that can bring a lot to the table, we just have to get on the court and show it.”

D’Tigress Head coach, Scott Nnaji, invited two new players and the 12 members of the team that finished third at AfroBasket Women 2015. The new faces are Ifunanya Ibekwe and Elem Ibiam, who are overseas-based.

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