The Nigerian national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, faces a challenging group in the upcoming FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifiers scheduled for February 2024, MySportDab reports
In a draw conducted in Hungary, D’Tigress was placed in Tournament 2, where they will contend with formidable opponents including hosts Belgium, the reigning champions, the USA, and Senegal.
D’Tigress boasts the title of reigning African champions, clinching the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket championship for the fourth consecutive time in 2023. However, their path to the Olympics includes facing some of the world’s best teams.
The USA, who are not only the defending Olympic champions but also the top-ranked team globally, present a formidable challenge. Belgium, ranked sixth in the world, is a force to be reckoned with in women’s basketball.
Senegal, ranked 20th globally, is the only team lower-ranked than D’Tigress, who hold the 11th position worldwide, making them the highest-ranked team in Africa.
Despite the formidable competition, D’Tigress remains a strong contender for Olympic qualification. The team has displayed great potential under the leadership of coach Rena Wakama.
At the last Afrobasket tournament, Wakama made history by becoming the first female coach to secure victory since the competition’s inception in 1966.
The Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, as decided by the FIBA Central Board, will take place from February 8 to 11, 2024, in four cities: Antwerp, Belgium; Belem, Brazil; Sopron, Hungary; and a yet-to-be-confirmed city in China.
In Tournament 1, France will compete against China, New Zealand, and the yet-to-be-determined qualifiers from the Americas.
Tournament 3 will see Brazil, Germany, Serbia, and Australia vying for an Olympic spot.
Meanwhile, Tournament 4, set to be staged in Hungary, will feature Spain, Hungary, Japan, and other qualifiers from the Americas region, all hoping to secure coveted Olympic tickets.
