‘I am blessed to be a part of this team and this group,’ says D’Tigress forward, Kunaiyi Akpana
Nigeria forward, Pallas Kunaiyi Akpana says she is blesses to a part of D’Tigress team that made history at the women’s basketball event of the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics despite the team’s exit at the quarterfinal stage.
USA ended the Nigerians fairytale run in the competition, winning 78-55 in the quarter-finals to bring the stunning and record-breaking run of Nigeria to an end.
Despite the defeat, D’Tigress made history in so many ways and stepped off the court having been the first African team (men or women) to have even competed at this stage.
“This team is one of a kind. I am blessed to be a part of this team and this group. These girls never give up and they always keep fighting through any adversity. We are going out, but I think we are not going out on any kind of negative note. I think we accomplished something big this year and we need to build on this for the future’, said Kunaiyi Akpana.
According to FIBA, D’Tigress, the ‘underdogs attained historical and unprecedented success, winning the hearts of basketball fans not only in Africa, but beyond. Beating Australia and Canada showed their potential, while they didn’t let USA have it all their own way in this last outing. Rene Wakama and her players have done an amazing job.’
