The director-general of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has praised Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigress following their historic victory against China at the ongoing FIBA U-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup.
In a stunning upset, the Nigerian team secured their first-ever win in the competition, defeating China 93-88 in their tournament opener held in Brno, Czech Republic, yesterday.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, the Nigerian players demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill, culminating in a groundbreaking triumph over their Chinese counterparts.
Nora Ezike was a standout performer, contributing an impressive 25 points, 16 of which came in a thrilling fourth quarter. Other notable contributions included Idubamo Beg with 18 points, Tobenna Nweke with 15 points, and Jessica Ajayi adding 10 points, all of whom finished with double-digit scores. Nigeria’s next group game is scheduled against Canada.
Olopade described this victory as a significant milestone for the development of sports in Nigeria, urging the team to maintain their focus and determination as they prepare to face Canada in their second match on Sunday.
“This is a monumental win for us as a country, as our U19 basketball girls have created a global record with Nigeria’s first-ever victory at the FIBA U-19 Women’s World Cup in the Czech Republic,” Olopade stated.
He extended his congratulations to the players for their impressive start and encouraged them to stay focused and committed for the upcoming game against Canada. “The future of our sports is undoubtedly secure,” he concluded in a message on his X account, @bukolaolopadee.
