Nigeria's D'Tigress: Three Familiar Faces Set to Challenge France
Under the guidance of coach Rena Wakama, Nigeria's D'Tigress national women's basketball team has largely maintained the core of the squad that secured a historic fifth consecutive AfroBasket Women's title in Abidjan, where they triumphed over Mali in the final. Eleven players from that championship-winning roster have been retained for the upcoming challenges.
Among the most impactful players are Murjanatu Musa (1.87m, 25 years old), Amy Okonkwo (1.88m, 29 years old), and Ezinne Kalu (1.73m, 33 years old). These three prominent figures are particularly known in France due to their significant careers in the French league.
Murjanatu Musa, after a stint at Tarbes, currently plays for Basket Landes and has established herself as one of the top players in the EuroLeague. Amy Okonkwo has previously played for Saint-Amand, Landerneau, and Bourges. She was born in the United States, a background she shares with Ezinne Kalu, who also spent three seasons at Landerneau, making them familiar faces on the European circuit.
Nigeria's campaign is set to begin on March 11 against Colombia, followed by a match against South Korea the very next day. After a brief interlude, the D'Tigress will challenge the Philippines on March 14, face France on March 15, and conclude their group stage matches against Germany on March 17.
The six teams in the Villeurbanne group are:
- Colombia
- France
- Germany
- Korea
- Nigeria
- Philippines
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