Elonu, Kalu invited as D’Tigress defend Afrobasket title

Otis Hughley, D’Tigress coach, has released the penultimate squad list ahead of the 2021 women’s Afrobasket championship in Yaounde, Cameroon, later this month.

The 13-player list was announced via the team’s verified Twitter page on Tuesday.

https://twitter.com/DtigressNG/status/1437753574138781696?s=20

Adaora Elonu is named the team’s captain with the experienced duo of Promise Amukamara, Ezinne Kalu also included in the squad.

Sarah Ogoke, who missed out on the Tokyo Olympics, returned with Victoria Macaulay to the team.

Elizabeth Balogun also made the list alongside Pallas Kunayi-Akpannah and Ifunanya Ibekwe.

It will, however, be the first time playing at the Afrobasket for Nkem Akaraiwe, Amy Okonkwo, Oderah Chidom, Nicole Enabosi, and Murjanatu Musa.

After days of camping, the 13 players and officials will arrive in Yaounde on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, for the championship.

The list will then be pruned down to 12 before the commencement of the championship.

D’Tigress, winners of the 2017 and 2019 Afrobasket championships, will commence their title defence against Mozambique on September 18, before facing Angola two days later.

The team will be aiming to win the women’s AfroBasket championships three consecutive times.

Only Senegal have been able to achieve the feat when they won the Afrobasket titles four times in a row from 1974 -1981.