By Akeem Busari

 

Nigerians, and indeed basketball lovers all over the world, are still basking in the euphoria of the brilliant performances of the African champions, the D'Tigress of Nigeria, and especially on the quarter finals match against the world number 1 seed and the star studded United States of America’s  women’s team, at the ongoing Paris z2024 Olympic Games. 

The Rena Wakama's team has been ceaseless and awe-inspiring from the group stages of the games up to the quarter finals, where no male or female African team has ever achieved in the history of the Olympic Games. 

 

Expectedly, the President of Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, has equally been effusive in praises for the remarkable outings of the girls, which he described as gallant, brave, historic and a testament to the uncommon zeal, passion, commitment and of course, the never-say-die attitudes of the average Nigerian.

 

Kida was equally quick to commend the board members of Nigeria Basketball Federation for their contributions towards the ever rising standard of Basketball in the last 7 years and the record setting feats achieved so far by the NBBF.

 

While thanking the Federal Government and the Sports Ministry, for their supports to the team, he called on well-meaning Nigerians at home and in diaspora to urge the federal government to celebrate the D'Tigress and award them national honours, for making Nigeria and indeed Africa, proud at all times.

 

National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Ambassador(Rev). Samuel Ikpea, expressed his satisfaction with the performances of the team, which he said, came at a time the country needed a refreshing breath of air, away from its perennial socio-economic challenges. 

 

Ikpea called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to celebrate and recognise these patriotic Nigerians, with a well-deserved national honours. He added that such recognition will help to serve as needed tonic and encouragement for the team, to do better in future continental and global engagements.

 

 Nigeria's Pillar of Sports, High Chief Donatus Ejidike-Agu, JP, said the team and officials of D'Tigress deserve to be celebrated by every Nigerian and particularly, by the federal government. 

According to the sports philanthropist and businessman, the federal government should prove its avowed gender equality by celebrating the girls with national honours. He noted that in recent times, Nigeria individual and female teams, have been at the forefront of making Nigeria proud on the global stage at all times.