Sports minister, Sunday Akinlabi Dare has joined in celebrating the history victory of Nigeria’s men’s basketball national team, D’Tigers over United States of America, and described it as a ruthless execution of slam-dunk skills by the players.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, speaking in the wake of D’Tigers’ stunning 90-87 triumph in Las Vegas, USA early Sunday morning, Dare added that the victory has further revealed that Nigeria will be at the forthcoming Olympic Games to ruffle many feathers.
The minister went on to declare how thrilled he was with the victory in God’s Own Country, as he added that it was highly exhilarating seeing D’Tigers for pull off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the giants’ sport.
The world was left stunned with Nigeria’s victory over the three-time reigning Olympic Games champions and current number one-ranked team in the world of basketball, adding that the pre-Tokyo 2020 build-up game has served as strong pointer of what to watch out for in Japan.
The minister enthused that D’Tigers will lead a crusade that will see the country’s contingent as whole surpass the heroic gold-medal-winning feats achieved at Atlanta ’96, and praised Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for progress being made by both the male and female teams.
Dare added: “Every single player showed up for the game and collectively the team put up a ruthless execution of basketball skills. The team matched the highly rated American team skill for skill, shot for shot and in every department the Nigerian team was on top of its game.
“Thank you, D Tigers for again announcing Nigeria’s arrival on the basketball world with a bang. Nigeria and Nigerians are proud of you. As the Olympics games proper beckons in a few days we are confident in your skills and certain that you are up to the task.
“Just as we are sure of the female team D’ Tigress. Having this morale boosting performance on the eve of the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics is a positive signal that Team Nigeria will achieve podium finishes at the Games.
”I am delighted with the progress our athletes are making in their respective sports and I strongly believe we will have many of our athletes in strong medal positions at this Olympics and future international global events.
”I said it about a week ago that basketball has been on the ascendancy in Nigeria in terms of the performance of the athletes and the organisational ability of the NBBF. The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will continue to provide the enabling environment for sports to grow in Nigeria.”
