FIBA Africa President Niang: ''Hats off to Nigeria and Senegal for their historic Women's World Cup performances''

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TENERIFE (FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018) -  FIBA Africa President Hamane Niang has urged African countries to build on Nigeria's and Senegal's performances at FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 in Tenerife, Spain.  
For the first time in the competition's history, two African nations achieved a milestone by moving out of the Group Phase, and, more importantly, they proved to be the equals of their European and American counterparts.
For some, it was a shocking reality seeing high-flying Latvia come up short against Senegal.
And, even more surprising, was when Turkey - ranked 10th in the FIBA World Ranking Women, presented by Nike - fell short against Nigeria, a team that had last participated at a World Cup in 2006.  Unsurprised, though, was Niang, who witness history being made in Tenerife. 
"We have to tip our hats off to Nigeria and Senegal for their performances against European teams," Niang said to FIBA.basktball. "It was one of the objectives set out in Africa for our national teams to compete against the Europeans because, other than the USA and Australia, it is these sides from Europe that have been the big threats at past Women's World Cups."
Nigeria went on a three-game winning streak beating Argentina and Greece to become the first African team to reach the FIBA Women's Basketball World Quarter-Finals for much to the delight of fans, basketball fans, and an entire African continent. 

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