Sports Minister, Dalung Hails D’Tigress, Super Eagles

ISRAEL TAIWO

Nigeria’s Youth and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung has praised the senior women’s national basketball team, the D’Tigress for their outstanding performance so far at the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket 2017 currently holding in Bamako, Mali.
D’Tigress thrashed their counterparts from Egypt by 106 points to 72 in the third game of their Group B fixture to become the first team to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Earlier in their opening game, Nigeria out dunked Mozambique by 80pts to 69 and outclassed Democratic Republic of Congo 84-47.
Dalung expressed happiness with the team’s performance so far in the Afrobasket and urged them to get to the finals and win the trophy.
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari sends his warm greetings to you as you know he just arrived from medical vacation at the weekend.
“On behalf of sports loving Nigerians, I bring you goodwill and best wishes from Nigeria. We have been following your progress in the Afrobasket 2017 which is the equivalent of the Africa cup Nations in football and we are highly impressed by the victories recorded in your three consecutive games.
“The federal government will stand by you to ensure that you get all the support needed to bring back the Afrobasket trophy.”
He urged them to maintain their focus ahead of the last two games in the group stages and seize the opportunity to perfect their plans heading into the quarter finals.
“Having qualified, tactically speaking, it will be wise for the coaches to give some of the fringe players a run to get them in top shape for the challenges ahead of the elimination stages.”
The Minister prayed for an incident and injury free Afrobasket campaign while reiterating the need to remain focused and determined in their quest to win their third title.
“Continue to play as a unit and in love like one family and by God’s grace, you’ll achieve success in your outing in Mali.”
In a related development, the Minister also hailed the Super Eagles Team B who defeated the Squirrels of Benin republic 2-0 in 2nd leg of the African Nations Championship qualifying match played at the Sani Abacha stadium in Kano at the weekend.
Barrister Dalung who was in Kano to cheer the home based Super Eagles to victory said their qualification once again confirmed the belief that the Nigeria Professional Football League is fast developing and producing budding talents who can form the backbone of the senior national team soon.
The Minister said the victory was sweeter because it ensured they got a place in the 2018 Championship billed for Kenya.