Nigeria national Basketball team, D’Tigress point guard, Nkechi Akashili is focused on making Nigeria’s final roster for the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Spain after she was left out of the squad that featured in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in France.
Akashili was a member of the D’Tigress squad that triumphed at the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Mali. The 27 year old was also part of the Nigerian team that won silver at the inaugural FIBA 3×3 Africa Cup in Togo and she also helped her club, First Bank of Nigeria to aThird-Place feat at the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women in Angola last month.
Now Akashili is determined to showcase herself at the world stage.
“Making the final round to the World Cup would be big for my profile,” Akashili told FIBA.basketball.
“We need to do well. I have to continue doing well and carry my team, contribute and not just make up numbers.
“It is a great dream. That is what most people wish to be. I do not know how to express myself. It will be a great achievement and high profile.
“Winning the AfroBasket was a dream come true. We were not favorites, but because we worked together as a team, we managed to achieve our goal. It is a team game and if you do not have team spirit, you cannot win.”
Reigning champions Nigeria and runners-up Senegal will represent Africa at the 2018 FIBA Basketball World Cup which will hold from September 22nd to 30th 2018 in Tenerife, Spain.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
