The Nigeria Basketball Federation has announced the roster for the 2023 Women’s Afrobasket Championship in Rwanda.

A contingent of 12 players, a standby Player and five officials have left Country en route to Kigali where the Championship is due to tip off on July 28.

Toyosi Abiola, Tomi Taiwo, Okoro Ifunaya, Sarah Ogoke all headline the D’Tigress roster.​ Also in the team are, Elizabeth Balogun, Adeyeye Adebola, Amy Okonkwo, Marjanatu Musa Lima, Pillar Akpanah and Olawuyi Olayemi.

Meanwhile, one of the major omission from Rena Wakama’s roster is Nkem Akaraiwe, who was cut in the final stages. Point guard Theresa Anta Joy Ebiega was also dropped.

Akaraiwe, the 2019 Nigerian Women’s Basketball League MVP, was in the team that won the last of the three peat in 2021.

Full Roster

Toyosi Abiola
Tomi Taiwo
Okoro Ifunaya
Sarah Ogoke
Elizabeth Balogun
Adeyeye Adebola
Amy Okonkwo
Murjjinatu Musa Linan
Pallas Akpanah
Olawuyi Adenike Olayemi
Lauren Ebo
Blessing Ejiofor
Nicole Enabosi Ehizele (On Standby)

It is the first time in four editions of the Women’s Afrobasketball Championship where D’Tigress will be without coahc Hughley Otis Jr.

The American won the three titles between 2017-2021, but his contract with the NBBF was not renewed per Queen John-Moseph.

D’Tigress are drawn in Group D against Egypt and DR Congo and they open their campaign on Friday against the Central African team at the Kigali Arena.