The sponsors of the annual National Women’s Basketball League, Zenith Bank PLC, are thrilled with the progress of women’s basketball in Nigeria.
For nearly two decades, Zenith Bank has been the sole sponsor of the national women’s league, which has produced numerous superstars who have gone on to represent Nigeria in continental and global competitions.
The national women’s team, D’Tigress, has made history by winning the AfroBasket competition for four consecutive years and made headlines two years ago at the basketball World Cup.
At the recently concluded Olympic Games in France, D’Tigress showcased remarkable resilience, defeating highly-rated teams to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
Additionally, the team’s coach, Rene Wakama, was recognized as the best coach of the global event.
It is also instructive to note that Murjanatu Musa, one of the key players of the team at the Olympics in Paris was the MVP of the 2022 event of Zenith Bank’s National Women’s Basketball League.
The Group Managing Director and CEO of Zenith Bank, Adaora Umeoji, says the outfit is always delighted that the investment in basketball is fast yielding positive fruits.
Umeoji said: “We are really happy that the women national team, D Tigress, are catching up with the rest of the world with our products in the league as part of the success story.
“The fast growth of the game will further propel up to do more just as we are happy with the ongoing league across the country. We charge all participants to put in their best efforts so that they will also become national team stars in the nearest future.
The second phase of the 2024 NBBF/Zenith Bank National Women’s Basketball League is set to begin on Sunday, September 22, at two venues.
This phase will be held in Enugu and Abuja from September 22 to 28, culminating in the national finals at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, from October 13 to 19. Notably, record title holders First Bank won all their matches in the Atlantic Conference during Phase 1, which took place in Akure. Similarly, the Customs Basketball team emerged victorious in all their games in the Savannah Conference held in Lafia, Nasarawa State.