Nigeria’s top financial firm Zenith Bank Plc, has showered praises on Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress for qualifying for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, expressed delight over the achievement of the D’Tigress.
Onyeagwu while speaking on the latest development said:
“We salute the achievement of the ladies because all the teams at the qualifiers played to pick a ticket. D’Tigress have been consistent in recent years and we want them to maintain that consistency.
“For us, we are proud of the ticket of the women’s team because our investment over the years is manifesting in the results of the ladies. Once again, we congratulate the players and officials of the team and also the Nigeria Basketball Federation.” He concluded.
D’Tigress won one game and lost two at the qualifying tournament that took place in Antwerp, Belgium last week, but that was enough to see them through to the Olympics.
Zenith Bank Plc in over 20 years have been the sole sponsor of the National Women’s Basketball League and this year, the bank has extended its sponsorship to the second tier, the Division One Women’s League.
Nigeria defeated Senegal 72-65 in the first match, lost 100-46 to USA in the second match and also lost to host, Belgium 78-61.
D’Tigress clinched one of the three tickets available after Belgium defeated Senegal 97-66 to knock the ladies from Dakar out of contention.
Belgium and Nigeria joined the already qualified USA who emerged as the World Champions last year.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be the third appearance of D’Tigress at the games after participating at the Athens 2004 and Tokyo 2020 events respectively.
The team will be hoping for a fine showing when they lock horns with their counterparts across the global later in the year.