The Nigeria Basketball Federation says the women’s senior national basketball team, D’Tigress will arrive in Lagos on August 20, for the next phase of camping ahead of 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Spain.
The championship scheduled to hold from September 22 to September 30, in Tenerife, Spain.
The Media Officer of NBBF, Afolabi Oni, said on Thursday in Ilorin that the team had been training in Atlanta, US.
Oni said: “The team led by Hughley Otis, will have their last training in the US on Saturday before their departure to Nigeria on Sunday.”
According to him, one of the players will be dropped from the team.
He said: “Presently, we have 14 players, including Adaora Elonu who has been drafted by Atlanta Dreams.
“The team will reduce the number of players to 13 before coming to Nigeria.’’
Oni said one of the players will be drop because there are three players (Uju Ugoka, Nkem Akaraiwe and Nkechi Akashili) who are already in Nigeria for the next phase camping.
He said that the team had settled in and were now focused on the task ahead.
Oni said the team’s experience in the US would translate to a good outing at the World Cup.
He said: “The adjustment has been so tremendous because the players are adjusting day by day, while the team’s chemistry has continued to improve.
“By the time the team rounds off on Saturday, we would have been able to achieve our set goal,’’ Oni said, adding that the team had been in camp for over two weeks.
“Coach Hughley Otis came with different dynamics and techniques both for offense and defense which has actually helped the team.
“He has seen the energy and ability of the girls and we have been able to adjust.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the team will start training on Tuesday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.
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