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| Nigeria's U-16 Basketball handler,Adeka |
It was a bright start for Nigeria yesterday at the 2015 FIBA Africa U-16 Women's Championship holding in Antananarivo, Madagascar as the team coached by Adeka Daudu beat three times runnesr up Egypt 54-52 in a thrilling opening game.
Rita James lead all scorers with 19 pts, with Ene Adams adding 10pts and 13 rebs and Onome James- Akinbode clearing the boards with 10rebs in addition to 3pts as Nigeria came from a first quarter slump (9-20 pts) to rebound (11-6)(23-16)(11-10) in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters to overcome Egypt
President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF Tijjani Umar reacting to the victory said the girls deserve praise stating it is as a good way to relaunch Nigeria into the age-grade competition in Africa after a four- year self imposed exile.
Speaking with coach Adeka Daudu on phone, Umar admonished him to ensure the players remain focused noting it is not yet uhuru. “It is a learning process and the players should maximise the opportunity, they should just remain focused and enjoy themselves”.
Umar reiterated that the team is not taking part in the competition to win at all cost but to use it as a platform of getting future players of the senior team.
"We are not condemned to win the tournament but if we end up champions we will celebrate,we have to note here that the essence is developmental for us as a Federation"
Nigeria will play next against host Madagascar on Sunday, Zimbabwe on Monday and Morocco on Tuesday to round off the group games.
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