Izuchukwu OkosiNigeria women’s basketball star Amy Okonkwo is optimistic about the chances of D’Tigress to qualify for a place in the 2024 Olympics following Wednesday’s draw for the FIBA Women’s Olympics qualifying tournament.
Nigeria will face Senegal, Team USA and Belgium.
Okonkwo is unperturbed by the strength of the teams they will face when the qualification series begin in Belgium in February 2024.
Okonkwo, who was adjudged the Most Valuable Player at the 2023 AfroBasket bared his thoughts when she spoke with FIBA.
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“My immediate reaction was I thought it is going to be a lot of fun. It will be tough but good for us as a team,” she stated.
“You should expect us to fight and win as many games as we can. We are a young group. We have a lot to give and I expect to see that on the court.
The basketball star who is aiming for her second shot at the Olympics after being part of the D’Tigress team to Tokyo 2020 added: “This would possibly be my second Olympics. It means everything to me to wear Nigeria across my chest. I truly love this team and I’ll do everything I can within my power to help lead us back there,” the former Saint-Amand Hainaut Basket player enthused.
On the opposition the team will face in their quest for a place at the Olympiad, she noted that there is no fear whatsoever.
“This doesn’t bother me. I approach every game the same and I love the challenge. I’m looking forward to the fun atmosphere in Belgium.
“We always respect our opponents. They are a very good team and I expect them to come with their best too.”
Regarding her teammates, she said: “I call for them to bring the same energy we brought to Afrobasket and to dig deeper and bring even more.”
Enroute to winning the African title in Rwanda which was the fourth on the trot, D’Tigress won all five games and Okonkwo averaged a team-high of 17.2 points while contributing 8.2 rebounds per game.
“I wouldn’t say I’m not necessarily concerned. I just know It’s going to be challenging with every single game. Everyone is going to bring their best. We will definitely need to rise to the challenge and perform,” Okonkwo reiterated.
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