FIBA world Cup: Igoche Mark-led NBBF Working With Federal Govt, D'Tigress For Early Preparations - VP

  FIBA world Cup: Igoche Mark-led NBBF Working With Federal Govt, D'Tigress For Early Preparations - VP   By Niyi Busari   The Vice-president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Osita Nwachukwu, has said that the Mark Igoche-led board is working with the Ministry of Sports and D'Tigress for early preparations ahead of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, BSNSports.com.ng can report.   The African champions, D'Tigress on Thursday were drawn in group B alongside France, Australia, Serbia, Japan and Canada where the top four teams are expected to pick the quarterfinals tickets.   Reacting to the draw, Osita who was a board member of the former administration under Muda Kida said early preparations will help D'Tigress surpass their 2018 quarterfinals feat.     "Early preparations is key to great outing for D'Tigress at the world cup. To achieve this, we are working with the Female Nigerian team, D'Tigress as well as the ministry to get them start the preparation very early. They are in a tough group with France, Serbia, Japan, Australia and Canada.   Hence, starting the prepare early by getting all the players we need in camp ahead of the championship will make them perform well and make Nigeria proud. He told BSN Sports.     He added that he's not surprised that D'Tigress picked the the World Cup ticket beating France and Mali in the qualifiers.   "No, I'm not really surprised to be honest, I always trust in our ladies. They always do us proud in Nigeria. Going with the circumstances that they're the African champions and their performance in recent times.   He said the Igoche-led board will correct what Musa Kida led board couldn't do for the team.   "We've promised them that the treatment will be different and organization will be different from what they experienced in the past. We need to treat them right to make us proud.   "We are assuring them that we are going to do everything humanly possible to actually rearrange the whole situation so that, that terminology or neglect will not repeat itself in Basketball again. He however tipped D'Tigress to pick the quarter finals ticket. "Judge by records, we know the difference, that was just defeated France couple of weeks ago. Japan we know we can take care of, Canada and Serbia, we have beaten them before , it's only Australia that I'm seeing properly will be hardest but I believe our girls will go out there and make us proud. The FIBA women's world cup will feature 12 women's national teams, with 38 games to be played across 10 days from September 22 to October 1 .