By kawaekwune Jeffrey
Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, may have bowed out in the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but their journey was nothing short of historic. Under the leadership of their US coach, Rena Wakama, D’Tigress became the first African team—male or female—to reach the last eight in Olympic basketball.
In a fiercely contested quarter-final match, D’Tigress put up a spirited fight against the United States but ultimately fell 88-74. Despite the loss, their performance marked a significant achievement for African basketball on the global stage.
The team’s progress to the quarter-finals was a proud moment for Nigeria and the African continent, as they overcame formidable opponents in the preliminary rounds. The players and staff, along with Coach Wakama, celebrated their groundbreaking accomplishment in Paris, setting a new benchmark for African teams in international basketball.
‘Immediate Attention’ to Nigeria’s Olympic Woes
In the aftermath of Nigeria’s overall performance at the Paris Olympics, which ended without a single medal, the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, expressed his deep concern. He described the nation’s showing as a “disaster” and pledged to address the underlying issues that led to the outcome.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Senator Enoh vowed to implement significant changes, including a review of the election process for leaders of the nation’s sports federations. “As we go back home, we must do everything to prevent future occurrences of the Paris disaster,” he wrote. “If this will entail the review of how people are elected to lead our sporting federations, it will be done.”
He emphasized that the disappointing performance in Paris was not an isolated incident but rather the result of broader systemic problems that require immediate attention. With upcoming elections for the sports federations, Enoh highlighted the need to ensure that only the most qualified individuals are chosen to lead, to avoid a repeat of the Paris 2024 outcome.
Enoh’s comments reflect the urgency of reforming Nigeria’s sports administration, with hopes of rebuilding and revitalizing the nation’s athletic prospects in future international competitions.
