Adaora Elonu has expressed confidence in the D’Tigress’ ability to advance to the quarter finals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Women’s basketball event, despite being placed in a challenging group.
Nigeria, the lowest-ranked in the tournament, will compete against Australia, hosts France, and Canada in the group phase.
Elonu, a former captain of the team, remains optimistic about their prospects.
“The D’Tigress are in a tough group, but we are used to this, especially in world competitions,” Elonu said.
“Our chances of qualifying depend on the players’ determination, commitment, and adherence to the coaches’ strategies.”
Acknowledging the difficulty of facing France, Australia, and Canada, Elonu emphasized that all teams are among the top twelve globally.
“We all earned our qualification for the Olympics, so advancing is within reach. I believe they can qualify.”
Amy Okonkwo, the 2023 Afrobasket Most Valuable Player, has been highlighted as a key player for Nigeria.
However, Elonu believes the team has multiple strong players.
“The team has many weapons and players fitting various roles. During the Olympic qualifiers, different players excelled in different areas. If they continue to leverage this at the Olympics, they will shine.”
Elonu also praised the team’s collective play and emphasized the importance of not relying on just one or two players.
“They are doing well in terms of team play, without relying heavily on individual stars,” she told Brila.net.
In addition to the player roster, Abisola Olajuwon, assistant coach of the WNBA team Connecticut Sun, has been drafted to assist Coach Rena Wakama.
