First Bank Basketball Club coach, Peter Ahmedu has admitted there is pressure on his team to succeed at the 2017 FIBA Africa Women Club Championship in Angola.
The bankers won their opening game 62-43 points against Equity Bank of Kenya on Saturday. Rather than get excited with the win, Ahmedu expressed unsatisfaction with his team’s performance. “I was not happy with how we played even though we won. The club Championship is not a baby’s game and no time for excuses. Next game we will adjust on the mistakes made in this game.”
“Our objective is to get to the final last year we came third and we know our country is expecting much from us. We are hoping to pick it one game at a time and get to the final.”
Ahmedu was part of the 2017 Afrobasket winning squad in Mali. He assisted Sam Vincent in guiding the D’Tigress to their third African title since 2005.
“Winning the Afrobasket has brought more weight on us because when you are winning, everyone wants to beat you. It’s difficult to be at the top and everyone sees Nigeria as a better team now in Africa and even in the world we are now seen as a basketball nation.
Angola is the only other country to have won the Club Championship apart from a Nigerian team. The former Mark Mentors coach hopes to halt their dominance in Africa.
“We have what it takes to break dominance even if we had not too perfect preparation. We are not here to participate but compete and win the championship also considering we are yet to win it since 2009.”
First Bank Basketball Club will play AS-Vita Club of Congo DPR on Monday.
