Nigeria bringing loaded team to pre-WOQT tournament
ABUJA (Nigeria) - Nigeria head coach Otis Hughley has announced a strong roster for the FIBA Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament Africa, including nine players who won the 2019 African title.
ABUJA (Nigeria) - Nigeria head coach Otis Hughley has announced a strong 12-player roster for the FIBA Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament Africa, including nine players from the team that won the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019.
Answering the call for the D'Tigress play-caller is captain Adaora Elonu as well as Evelyn Akhator, Promise Amukamara, Aisha Balarabe, Ify Ibekwe, Sarah Imovbioh, Ezinne Kalu, Victoria Macaulay and Atonye Nyingifa from the team that won the title in Senegal in August.
| Nigeria's roster for the FIBA Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying African Tournament | |||
| Evelyn Akhator | Promise Amukamara | Upe Atosu | Aisha Balarabe |
| Elizabeth Balogun | Adaora Elonu | Ify Ibekwe | Sarah Imovbioh |
| Ezinne Kalu | Pallas Kunnayi-Akpannah | Victoria Macaulay | Atonye Nyingifa |
With Nigeria looking to remain alive for a spot in the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT), back in the mix is the United States-based Upe Atosu, who last played for the white and green when they won the FIBA Women's AfroBasket crown in 2017.
Hughley added to his team Elizabeth Balogun, who plays at the University of Louisville and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year when she played at Georgia Tech University.
The 19-year-old Balogun would be making her international debut, as would Pallas Kunnayi-Akpannah who narrowly missed making the team for the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019.
In addition, Elo Edema, Sarah Ogoke and Jasmine Nwajei have been listed as stand-by players for the team.
Hughley and the team will arrive in Mozambique on November 9 and will face off against the Democratic Republic of Congo on November 14 and hosts Mozambique on November 16 in Group A. Group B features Angola, Mali and Senegal.
The two top teams from each group will advance to the Semi-Finals, with the winners of Group A facing the second-placed team in Group B, and Group B winners facing the second-placed side from Group A.
The two winners in the Semi-Finals will automatically book their tickets to the 16-nation WOQT. The two African teams will play in the WOQTs with the top three teams from each of the three WOQTs qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
FIBA