Despite losing two matches and winning one to secure a back-to-back qualification to the Olympic Games in France later this year, the world basketball ruling body has rated the African champion as the 11th best team at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament
According to FIBA, credit must be given to Rene Wakama and her team which was missing some of the stars that stepped out at Tokyo 2020 and despite the absence of ballers that are playing at a higher-level club-wise, the crop in Antwerp got the win they needed against Senegal. They were under a lot of pressure with some questioning if this D’Tigress lineup could get it done and avoid defeat.
It added: “It was close, but with the superb Amy Okonwko to lead them, they eased out their African rivals and she deservedly got a slot in the All-Star Five. Of course, the subsequent games against USA and Belgium exposed a worrying gulf in class, but that is for another day. As Coach Wakama and many of the players at the event continually reiterated, the Nigerian ‘Warrior’ spirit is alive and well.
The FIBA Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 Power Rankings are put together by FIBA expert panel, led by FIBA’s women’s basketball specialist Paul Nilsen.