The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) have revealed plans for the national women’s team, D’ Tigress, to undergo training camps in Ghana and the USA as part of their preparation for the Paris Olympics.
Announced after a recent executive meeting in Abuja, the program includes various local and international competitions scheduled throughout 2024 to keep the athletes engaged.
President of the federation, Alhaji Musa Kida, stated that the board has endorsed a proposal for D’Tigress to undergo three phases of training camps in Nigeria, Ghana, and the United States to adequately prepare for the Paris Olympics.
D’Tigress faces tough opponents such as Canada, Australia, and France in what’s considered a challenging group.
“This is an Olympic year. We’ve secured back-to-back qualifications in the women’s category, though unfortunately, we couldn’t qualify the Men’s team,” Kida informed journalists.
“Our main focus this year is on the 2024 Paris Olympics. We are planning three-phase training camps for D’Tigress, starting in Nigeria, then Ghana, and finally the USA. With the support of the sports ministry and the Nigeria Olympic Committee, we aim to surpass our performance from the last Olympics.”
He added, “Locally, we’re prioritizing the league. We have 8 teams per conference in the premier league alongside strong division one and two divisions. We are in talks with sponsors to commence the league at the right time.”
“For the women’s league, the Zenith Bank Women’s League will feature 8 teams in the Savannah Conference and 8 teams in the Atlantic Conference, forming the Elite women’s league. We’re working closely with Zenith Bank officials to ensure a successful season.”
“Another key focus is our Youth program. We are revamping the U21 and 3X3 programs for better performance.”
“The board has also approved training and refresher courses for referees and match commissioners in 2024. We’ll conduct local training and invite top officials from FIBA to assist. Our aim is to propel some of them onto the international stage.