₦airaland Forum

Redman44:
We should have a home based D'tigress squad that is made up of the best female basketball players in Nigeria . Murjanatu Musa was a home based player before she moved abroad. We have had a few breakout players like that who transitioned from our local league to America and Europe. Cheers.

I'd rather we just identify the best talents in Nigeria and find a way to get them scholarship in US colleges.

We don't have the right environment to groom and nurture talent here. We just don't. Someone like Musa and Evelyn are outliers.

Danielnino00:
At this rate, it's unlikely that Musa will join the team for the afrobasket...


Good for her though.... By the time the world cup comes around, we should have a more formidable team...
I really hope we get Kiki

If Musa likes herself she shouldn't bother coming. Make a case for yourself in the WNBA this season. You'll notice she's getting the coach's confidence more and it's leading to more minutes on the floor. She needs to continue to do that cause once those injured comes back, getting minutes is going to be significantly difficult. The only way she has a chance is to play as much as she can now and impresses. That way, she gets herself noticed in the league so by next season she offers from teams where she gets to be a starter.

Kiki's case is exactly like this. You realize that Kiki wasn't supposed to be a starter. Not in a thousand years. She had Shakira Austin and Aaliyah Edwards ahead of her in the pecking order. This was supposed to be Aaliyah's breakout year, plus she went to UConn so she had a large fanbase supporting her that can influence coaching decisions. However, they both were injured and she did so well in training camp the coach trusted her enough to start. She made so much case for herself it will be malpractice to not start her now. She's literally made both Aaliyah and Shakira (who were starters last year) bench players. UConn fans are even asking for Aaliyah to be traded cause they can she there's no way she's starting ahead of Kiki now.

That's what Musa neads to do. Ignore Afrobasket, and make a strong case for yourself. Her success in the WNBA isn't just for her, it will make some scouts pay attention to local talents in Nigeria. I hope the NBBF has enough sense and vision to realize this.

lovewins:
If Musa likes herself she shouldn't bother coming. Make a case for yourself in the WNBA this season. You'll notice she's getting the coach's confidence more and it's leading to more minutes on the floor. She needs to continue to do that cause once those ok injuries come back, getting minutes is going to be significantly difficult. The only way she has a chance is to play as much as she can now and impresses. That way, she gets herself noticed in the league so by next season she offers from teams where she gets to be a starter.

Kiki's case is exactly like this. You realize that Kiki wasn't supposed to be a starter. Not in a thousand years. She had Shakira Austin and Aaliyah Edwards ahead of her in the pecking order. This was supposed to be Aaliyah's breakout year, plus she went to UConn so she had a large fanbase supporting her that can influence coaching decisions. However, they both were injured and she did so well in training camp the coach trusted her enough to start. She made so much case for herself it will be malpractice to not start her now. She's literally made both Aaliyah and Shakira (who were starters last year) bench players. UConn fans are even asking for Aaliyah to be traded cause they can she there's no way she's starting ahead of Kiki now.

That's what Musa neads to do. Ignore Afrobasket, and make a strong case for yourself. Her success in the WNBA isn't just for her, it will make some scouts pay attention to local talents in Nigeria. I hope the NBBF has enough sense and vision to realize this.

Well spoken. Thanks. Nkem Akaraiwe and Akashili ( Can't remember her first name ) were also good home based players who represented Nigeria at the Women's Basketball World Cup in Spain in 2018. So, we do have some very good home based players. Your idea is the best - Find them Colleges in the USA or Canada or Europe where they can play collegiate basketball and hopefully find clubs later on. Cheers.

Phoenix vs Dallas in an hour. Musa vs Paige Buckets

BascoVanVeli:
Phoenix vs Dallas in an hour. Musa vs Paige Buckets

👀

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o7m7QQdRJU?si=HB2Tq9Eke_FLFvDZ

FYI

D’Tigress “homecoming”’ schedule in Abuja, at the MO Arena is as follows:

July 17 vs Togo
July 18 vs Kenya

List is out.....omg...Vicky is back, i hope some day we get Chidom back....Who do think makes final cut...

carbonado:
List is out.....omg...Vicky is back, i hope some day we get Chidom back....Who do think makes final cut...

Macaulay, Pallas, Amukamara, Kalu, Okoro, Amy Okonkwo, Enabosi, Ejiofor, Ugonne Onyiah…

Onyiah’s 60% FG stat is super impressive!!

[quote author=PDPGuy post=135885082]Macaulay, Pallas, Amukamara, Kalu, Okoro, Amy Okonkwo, Enabosi, Ejiofor, Ugonne Onyiah…

Onyiah’s 60% FG stat is super impressive!![/quote

I have googled all the new names there and they are mostly collegiate players in the USA, which is a good thing. And they've won one basketball award or the other either in high school or college . I think Onyiah, Enumah and Efosa might make the Squad for the coming Afrobasket. Macaulay rejoining D'tigress is good news. Senegal has hired former D'tigress Assistant Coach, Peter Ahmedu, to work with Otis Hughley. Senegal is serious about winning this year's tourney. Hmn.

PDPGuy:
Macaulay, Pallas, Amukamara, Kalu, Okoro, Amy Okonkwo, Enabosi, Ejiofor, Ugonne Onyiah…

Onyiah’s 60% FG stat is super impressive!!

.....lol..your list is not complete, kindly complete it.....let me drop my prediction barring any injury...
1) Promise Amukamara.
2)Ezinne Kalu.
3) Ifunnaya Okoro.
4) Elizabeth Balogun.
5)Amy Okonkwo.
6)Nicole Enabosi.
7) Pallas Kunaiyi.
Murjanatu Musa.
9) Victoria Macaulay.
10) Lauren Ibo.
11) Blessing Ejiofor.
12) Izoje Uche..
In a few weeks, i would how many i get right...

[quote author=Redman44 post=135886295][/quote]...Senegal means business , the really want to dethrone Nigeria, they even were to go for a camp in the U.S, however, alot off their players were denied Visas, best believe, Every nation on the continent is hoping Nigeria falter at this point...I see the Dtigress is trying to add size and length and depth based on this list. Senegal is sending signals, Nigeria is responding...

carbonado:
.....lol..your list is not complete, kindly complete it.....let me drop my prediction barring any injury...
1) Promise Amukamara.
2)Ezinne Kalu.
3) Ifunnaya Okoro.
4) Elizabeth Balogun.
5)Amy Okonkwo.
6)Nicole Enabosi.
7) Pallas Kunaiyi.
Murjanatu Musa.
9) Victoria Macaulay.
10) Lauren Ibo.
11) Blessing Ejiofor.
12) Izoje Uche..
In a few weeks, i would how many i get right...

Same choice, but Ill put in Onyiah 😁

PDPGuy:
Same choice, but Ill put in Onyiah 😁

… let see how it goes….lol

There will be open camping once more in Abuja just like in 2023. Every lady invited to the camp in Abuja will be given a chance to fight for a place in the 12 woman squad for the 2025 Afrobasket in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. I forsee 2-3 new D'tigress members in the final squad.

Except they shape up massively, ifunanya okoro, Blessing Ejiofor and Ebo may be displaced by the new invitees who are talented Collegiate players or who are just signing professional contracts in America or Europe. The fight for shirts will be TOUGH .

@ lovewins. @ Carbonado, please give us updates on the form of Okoro, Ebo, Ejiofor at the moment. Thanks.

I have this belief and faith that D'tigress will win again in Abidjan and might not face Senegal in the final. Senegal team might be beaten by the likes of Angola, Mali or Mozambique in the semis. We should be careful though and not relax . All the teams at the tourney will want to defeat Nigeria.

carbonado:
.....lol..your list is not complete, kindly complete it.....let me drop my prediction barring any injury...
1) Promise Amukamara.
2)Ezinne Kalu.
3) Ifunnaya Okoro.
4) Elizabeth Balogun.
5)Amy Okonkwo.
6)Nicole Enabosi.
7) Pallas Kunaiyi.
Murjanatu Musa.
9) Victoria Macaulay.
10) Lauren Ibo.
11) Blessing Ejiofor.
12) Izoje Uche..
In a few weeks, i would how many i get right...

Of course her personal decision, but I am still of the opinion that Musa should stay put in Arizona. She currently averages less than 10 mins a game and it will be easy to move on from her seeing she doesn't have a guaranteed contract. It gets a lot more complicated seeing Dewanner Bonner who recently left Indiana wants Phoenix has her next team, and that can only happen if Phoenix cuts one person from their 12 man roster. Musa should make herself relevant in the WNBA, it makes the most sense in my opinion.

Redman44:
@ lovewins. @ Carbonado, please give us updates on the form of Okoro, Ebo, Ejiofor at the moment. Thanks.

I have this belief and faith that D'tigress will win again in Abidjan and might not face Senegal in the final. Senegal team might be beaten by the likes of Angola, Mali or Mozambique in the semis. We should be careful though and not relax . All the teams at the tourney will want to defeat Nigeria.

Don't know much about them quite frankly. I am aware Ebo played in Europe last season but that's about it. Just checked all of their stats and Ebo seem to be the most impressive.

Redman44:
@ lovewins. @ Carbonado, please give us updates on the form of Okoro, Ebo, Ejiofor at the moment. Thanks.

I have this belief and faith that D'tigress will win again in Abidjan and might not face Senegal in the final. Senegal team might be beaten by the likes of Angola, Mali or Mozambique in the semis. We should be careful though and not relax . All the teams at the tourney will want to defeat Nigeria.

...Lauren is a solid young center, used to watch her games on youtube when she was in Turkey(2 seasons ago), however, i did not watch her last season, it also seems she left Turkey, not too sure...I do not know much about Okoro or Ejiofor at the club level..

lovewins:
Of course her personal decision, but I am still of the opinion that Musa should stay put in Arizona. She currently averages less than 10 mins a game and it will be easy to move on from her seeing she doesn't have a guaranteed contract. It gets a lot more complicated seeing Dewanner Bonner who recently left Indiana wants Phoenix has her next team, and that can only happen if Phoenix cuts one person from their 12 man roster. Musa should make herself relevant in the WNBA, it makes the most sense in my opinion.

..I totally understand you...we wait for her decision, however, i doubt if she will stay back in the U.S.. Anyone she does,we dey her back....

The Phoenix Mercury will sign Dewanner Bonner soon and will have to cut at least one player to make room for her. Hoping this isn't the case but there's a very high chance Musa will be waived.

lovewins:
The Phoenix Mercury will sign Dewanner Bonner soon and will have to cut at least one player to make room for her. Hoping this isn't the case but there's a very high chance Musa will be waived.

the Wnba is one serious cut throat league....it is well...

Senegal really mean business, they have been in camp for a while now...Seeing Otis Hugley Jnr in the Senegalese gears feels a certain type of way...Few more nights to showdown....

lovewins:
The Phoenix Mercury will sign Dewanner Bonner soon and will have to cut at least one player to make room for her. Hoping this isn't the case but there's a very high chance Musa will be waived.

Well it's happened. Really feel bad for Musa, but glad she got the WNBA experience. Hoping she learns from this and bounce back.

What this means is that she'll be available for Afrobasket, so good news for Nigeria I guess.

I happened 😢 Murjanatu Musa cut by the Mercury. All because u want to sign somebody's up wife

The Junior D’Tigress will take on 🇨🇳 at the FIBA U-19 World Cup, tomorrow, at 1pm…

End of 3rd quarter
Nigeria 61-60 China

Nigeria wins 93-88

What a comeback!

Full time

Nigeria 93-88 China

What a turnaround from the Junior D’Tigress in that second half!!

Nora Ezike, who is headed to Stanford, was Nigeria Player Of The Match 🤩
25 PTS | 6 REB | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 8-8 FG

Danielnino00:
Nigeria wins 93-88

What a comeback!

Well, the comeback wouldn't have been necessary had the coach just played the best players from the beginning.

PDPGuy:
Nora Ezike, who is headed to Stanford, was Nigeria Player Of The Match 🤩
25 PTS | 6 REB | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 8-8 FG

The true commentary of this game is that the coach decided to sit her best players on the bench to play into the homegrown player sentiments. The shooting was so bad in the first half I stopped watching at some point.

Thankfully she brought them in and the entire game changed. Imagine shooting 100% FG? What a player Nora Ezike is. Jesicca Ajayi also gave great minutes shooting 50% from 3s. Had 10 points in just 14 mins of play. Tobenna Nweke also did well in the 2nd half too.

lovewins:
Well, the comeback wouldn't have been necessary had the coach just played the best players from the beginning.

I guess, as the commentator alluded to, that the coach may have decided to stick with the core of the side that competed at the last junior Afrobasket, for cohesion purposes.

But she shouldn’t try that again in the next game lol