The National Women`s basketball team - winners of the just concluded Women`s Afrobasket tournament and now 3 times African champions - returned to Nigeria via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos at about 9.40pm yesterday and waiting for them was a marching band, a large group of fans and a number of photographers waiting to celebrate with the new champions. A truly deserved hero`s welcome.
The team returned to the country without the Head Coach Sam Vincent, Team Manager Mfon Udoka, WNBA` Dallas Wings` Evelyn Akhator and Nyingifa Atonye who all left from Bamako to their various bases due to club and personal engagements.
Since their victory on Sunday 27, tonnes of congratulatory messages have come in including that of the C-In-C.
"Congratulations to D`Tigress on the 2017 FIBA Women`s Afrobasket tournament win and qualifying for the 2018 FIBA Women`s Basketball World Cup" - President Muhammadu Buhari
"In international relations, there is something we call elements of power. One of it is your population, education, your resources, the kind of human beings you have and another one is sports. By your accomplishment at this tournament, you have become part of the power projection of our country, Nigeria.” - Nigerian Ambassador to Mali, Ken Nwachukwu
“The determination showed by the players and officials of the D’Tigress at the Afrobasket Championship in Mali, tells a lot about the character of the team. They have just set precedence for other national teams in other sports in Nigeria, to remain focused even in midst of political instability in any of the sports federations. Athletes should at all times not get themselves involved with leadership tussle by sports administrators. With an enabling environment, they should get the job done.” - Tijjani Umar
A reception will be held for them today Tuesday August 29 at the Media Centre, National Stadium Abuja by 2.30pm
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