Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, began their exhibition series in China with a narrow 70-67 defeat to the hosts in Haikou on Friday, as the reigning African champions opened the second stage of their build-up to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
The five-time consecutive African champions matched China for long periods in a closely contested encounter before falling three points short at the final buzzer.
Despite the defeat, head coach Rena Wakama will be encouraged by her side’s performance against the world’s fourth-ranked team, with D’Tigress set for another test when the two sides meet again in their second exhibition game on Saturday, August 9.
The China leg forms part of a five-stop preparation programme titled “Road to Berlin,” which began with games in the United States from July 29 to August 2 before the squad flew directly to Haikou aboard the Nigeria Basketball Federation’s airline partner, XEJet. Related News Barcelona cancel Morocco friendly over border crisis Norway calls for Infantino’s resignation over FIFA leadership crisis CAF backs FIFA after governance apology, endorses Infantino
Federation president Ahmad Musa Kida said facing a disciplined Chinese side in front of a large home crowd would help the team adjust to the intensity they will face at the World Cup, while also offering Nigeria commercial exposure through live broadcast on China Media Group.
