According to point guard Promise Amukamara, Nigeria's D'Tigress would seek to reach the quarterfinals of the Fiba Women's Basketball World Cup later this year.
The team will be Africa's sole representation at the tournament, which will be held in September in Sydney, Australia.
Following their performance at the World Cup qualifier in Belgrade earlier this month, D'Tigress has risen to 14th in the Fiba world rankings.
The African champions bounced back from their opening-day loss to China by defeating world number five France and continental foe Mali to secure the final available ticket to Sydney.
Despite the absence of France-based point guard Ezinne Kalu, Amukamara joined top performers Adaora Elonu, Amy Okonkwo, Victoria Macaulay, and Oderah Chidom in leading Nigeria to back-to-back World Cup berths.
‘This tournament meant a lot to us. We overcame a great deal of difficulties ‘According to Amukamara, he told the Fiba website.
‘I had to step up and take on the position of point guard and leader. That was a difficulty for me because I am not a very outspoken person.
‘This competition, I believe, was the best for us since we had to put everything together with no training camp or preparation. We had a lot of faith in ourselves.
‘Now all we have to do is get healthy again, and the sky is the limit. We've already startled a large portion of the world. We won't just show up (in Sydney); we'll have a new mindset and aim for the quarter-finals.’
Nigeria had the continent's greatest result at the 2018 World Cup in Spain, finishing in the last eight.
The 2022 World Cup draw will take held in Sydney on Thursday, March 3rd.
Amukamara Promise in action for Nigeria
Promise Amukamara scored 10 points to lead Nigeria to a key qualification victory over Mali. Nigeria is the second team in African women's basketball history to win three titles in a row, and they have the credentials to back up their claim as one of the continent's giants.
However, the Nigeria Basketball Federation's (NBBF) leadership issue overshadowed the team's preparations for the qualifying event in Serbia.
The West Africans began their campaign in Belgrade with a 90-76 loss to China in Group B, but they had a night to remember on day two when they claimed their first ever win against France in a thrilling 67-65 comeback victory.
Victoria Macaulay was at the center of the operation.
It was a pulsating end on the last day against familiar rivals Mali.
Cruising with a 21-point lead, Nigeria almost self-destructed as Mali turned up the defensive pressure, dragging it back to a one-shot game inside the last minute. Nonetheless, Amy Okonkwo starred with 14 points and Amukamara produced 10 points as D'Tigress managed to cling on for a 73-69 victory.
‘I think fatigue set in and only having one point guard made it tough against a team in survival mode,’ reflected Nigeria head coach Otis Hughley Jr.
