AS many as nine of the players that featured for D’Tigress at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics have been included in the roster for the 2021 Women’s AfroBasket.
The Nigerian team are aiming to retain their title and have gone to Cameroon with a strong team.
D’Tigress have named a 13-woman roster for the African championship where they will face the continent’s top teams.
Among the Olympians in the team are captain Adaora Elonu, Elizabeth Balogun and Promise Amukamara.
Others include Ezinne Kalu, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpannah, Ifunanya Ibekwe and Oderah Chidom.
Victoria Macaulay and Amy Okonkwo complete the list of Tokyo Olympians who are returning for the AfroBasket.
Aisha Balarabe, Erica Ogwumike and Atonye Nyingifa are the only Tokyo Olympics players who will miss out on the AfroBasket.
Sarah Ogoke missed the Olympics but she is back for the AfroBasket, along with Nicole Enabosi, Murjanatu Musa and Nkem Akaraiwe.
The Nigerian ladies will begin the defence of their title against Mozambique on Saturday in Yaounde, Cameroon.
They will then battle Angola on Monday, looking to finish as group winners.
After days of camping, the 13 players and officials will arrive in Yaounde on Tuesday and Wednesday for the championship.
Having won the AfroBasket titles back to back in 2017 and 2019, D’Tigress are seeking their third straight title.
They are aiming to become the first team to win it for three consecutive times in 40 years.
Only Senegal have been able win three in a row before, claiming four straight Afrobasket titles from 1974 to 1981.
The 13-woman roster will be cut down to 12 before the commencement of the championship.
