MAPUTO (Mozambique) - Nigeria claimed their  fourth FIBA Women's AfroBasket title back in August thanks to a 60-55 win over archrivals Senegal at a fully packed 15,000-seater Dakar Arena.

D'Tigress, who registered a perfect five-game unbeaten run at the biennial showdown are back to court on the occasion of the FIBA Women's African Pre-Qualifying Tournaments in Maputo, Mozambique.

Atonye Nyingifa - a key member of the Nigerian team - set the bar high as she reminds everybody that the West Africans travelled to Maputo to secure one of the two tickets available for African countries for next year's FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

"I DIDN’T PLAY FOR MY NATIONAL TEAM WHEN I WAS YOUNG. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE WON A TITLE FOR YOUR COUNTRY, IT IS SPECIAL, AS YOU KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE."- Nyingifa

 D'Tigress will open their 2020 Olympics Pre-Qualifiers against hosts and stubborns Mozambique on Saturday.

And the Torrance native (California) is adamant about their chances of making it to the next round. "It’s something we can achieve as a team. We only have to focus on what is important," she told FIBA.basketball

Nigeria made a big statement last year as they ended up in 8th place at FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Tenerife, Spain, and competing at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo would be another  opportunity for Nyingifa and her teammates to showcase theit talent and make their fellow compatriots proud.

"We’re doing it for us, for our people, and for the millions of Africans who believe in us," the 1.83 m (6 ft) Power forward stressed.

The statement they made in the Spanish city had everyone’s eyes set on the Nigerian team. They lived up to their status with a second consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket win to the delight all the Nigerians.

"It means so much for us, and especially for me, as being an African champion has united my family around me."

As a matter of fact, Nyingifa has been an actor of all three of her country’s achievements. "For the past three years, I have enjoyed serving my country. And it’s nothing short to set history with such a young team in such a short span of time. We’ll take the accomplishment as it comes," she explained.

It is all about the pride to wear one’s national colors. "I didn’t play for my national team when I was young. But when you have won a title for your country, it is special, as you know what it feels like,"said the the 28-year-old who plies her trade with Spanish side Durán Maquinaria Ensino.

Maputo is only a stepping stone for the Nigerian side, as it will move them closer to their goal. "Everything we’ve been doing since the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2019 revolves around the Olympics. It doesn’t matter which tournament we’re in."

"The end result is to make it to Tokyo 2020. We’re using the tournament in Maputo as a way to show the world why we need to be in the Olympics."

FIBA