Ezinne Kalu is one of D’Tigers’ stars billed for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Nigeria’s preparation for a successful outing in the women basketball event at the forthcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has entered the final stretch with three grade A friendlies lined up for D’Tigress.
According to Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Coach Otis Hughley tutored the side, who resumed the second phase of camping in Las Vegas on May 8, left for Belgium early this week for preparatory games against Belgium, Puerto Rico and Serbia at the Lange Munte arena situated in Kortrijk.
Ezinne Kalu, Adaora Elonu, Promise Amukamara, Sarah Ogoke, Sarah Imovbioh and Aisha Balarabe are among the players in camp.
Others include Oderah Chidom, Amy Okonkwo, Atonye Nyingifa, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah and Nicole Enabosi, who are all jostling for slots on the team to Tokyo.
The duo of Ify Ibekwe and Victoria Macaulay, who could not join up with the team during the February camp in Atlanta due to COVID-19 protocols in Europe, complete the list of players in camp.
The team, which has 13 players currently in camp, will face World number 23, Puerto Rico today before taking on Serbia, who are ranked eighth in the latest FIBA ranking.
The team will conclude its series of friendlies with another tough game against world number six, Belgium on Sunday.
D’Tigress, drawn in Group B, will battle hosts, Japan, France and world champions, U.S. at the games billed to start on July 23, 2021.