Draw pits D’tigress, D’tigers against U. S., Australia in opening games
NIGERIA has been handed some tough opening games at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics basketball event with the senior women’s team, D’tigress, to open their campaign on Tuesday, July 27 against U. S.
According to the official fixture released by the Federation of International Basketball Associations ( FIBA), the reigning African champions, who missed the Rio 2016 games, will be presented another chance to prove a point against the team they narrowly lost to at the 2020 Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade.
On July 30, the coach Otis Hughley tutored side will file out against world number five, France, before their last game against host, Japan ( 10th), on August 2 for the conclusion of group B games.
The senior men’s team, D’tigers, will open their campaign against Australia on July 29 in group B at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo. Alongside Australia, the number one ranked team in Africa currently on a nine- match unbeaten run in all competitions, will also play winners of the Olympics Qualifying Tournaments from Serbia and Belgrade between the June 29 and July 4.
Following the completion of the group games, the top two teams in each group and the two best losers will qualify for the quarter- finals.
They will be divided into Group D ( best 4 teams) and Group E ( remaining 4 teams). The quarter- finals pairings for the men will be decided on August 1 with the women’s tournament draws taking place the following day.
Women’s games QF actions will be on August 4 before the semifinals and the Bronze Medal Game on August 6 and August 7 respectively.
The men’s quarterfinal games will come up on August 3 before the semifinals two days later, while the final will be played on August 7, while women’s final will be on August 8.