We need to celebrate our girls for their courage says Coach Adeka

Abuja – Daudu Adeka, Coach of the national Under-16 female Basketball team on Tuesday, celebrated the team for their courage and performance at the championship.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian U-16 female Basketball team won a Silver medal at the just concluded final round of the 4th FIBA-Africa U-16 Women Championship in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Adeka told newsmen in Abuja that only eight players participated in the championship and ended up winning a silver medal.

“We went to the tournament with a mind set of exposing our players to such championship, we did not take it serious but I am happy we ended it well with only eight players.

Three of the players were disqualified by the organisers.
“Our girls have a lion heart; they were able to play under that terrible weather, I am proud of them because they made us proud as good ambassadors,’’ he said.

Adeka said that the U-16 female team would be kept for the 2016 FIBA Under-17 Championship.

“We will keep them for the 2016 championship and create room for new players, the age barrier will be 17 years and three months and we are going to the U-17 championship.

“We will look at the team again to see the area we are weak, the preparation start now, the girls exhibited a very strong ability, with the little help during our preparation, we can really go very far,’’ he said.

NAN recalls that Nigeria’s U-16 male team will participate in the final round of the 5th African Nations Junior Championship in Bamako, Mali from July 30 to Aug. 8.