Peter Obi has congratulated Nigeria's U18 women's basketball team, the Junior D'Tigress, after they won silver at the FIBA U18 Women's AfroBasket Championship in Abidjan and secured qualification for the 2027 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in China.
Obi, in a post on X, praised the team despite their 77-68 defeat to defending champions Mali in the final, saying their performance demonstrated the talent and resilience of Nigeria's young athletes.
He said reaching the continental final and securing a place at the World Cup was an achievement worthy of celebration.
Obi, however, expressed concern over the team's preparation for the tournament, saying he understood that the full squad had only a few days together before the competition.
According to him, an earlier preparation programme had provided for a longer camping and integration period for home-based and foreign-based players.
He said the team's run to the final despite the limited preparation was a testament to the players, coaches, officials and families who supported them.
“But their success should not make us comfortable with the shortcomings that surrounded their preparation,” Obi said.
The former Anambra governor said Nigeria had talented young people across sports, science, technology, education, entrepreneurship and the arts, but argued that the country needed stronger systems to identify, develop and support them.
“We cannot continue to depend on individual brilliance and extraordinary sacrifice to compensate for institutional weaknesses,” he said.
Obi urged authorities to begin preparations for the 2027 World Cup early, saying the players should be kept together, properly trained and adequately supported to build a stronger and more cohesive team.
He also commended the players, coaching and technical crew, basketball officials and parents for their contributions to the team's success.
“To the girls, I say: hold your heads high. The silver medal is not the end of your journey,” Obi said, urging the team to represent Nigeria with greater distinction at the World Cup in China.
The Junior D'Tigress' silver-medal finish in Abidjan secured Nigeria's qualification for the 2027 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup.
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