Japan’s Okoye set to compound D’Tigeress woes in Tokyo

Nigeria born Monica Okoye has been impressive for Japan despite the team’s defeat 86-69 by USA on Friday will come face to face with compatriots Nigeria on Monday as D’Tigeress seek for first win.

The Nigerian side have lost two of their earlier matches to USA and France respectively and will face Japan in the last group match.

Japan who occupy the second position on the log behind USA, won their first match against France 74-70 before losing to USA and will come out smoking against Nigeria.

The Japanese team will be banking on Monica Okoye who has been impressive for the side so far. Monica whose elder brother Rui Okoye plays baseball also in Japan will be hoping to re-enact some of the moves she made in the tie against USA.

The 19-year-old forward has become a candidate to play on the senior national team for the first time and has given a good account of herself so far. Both Monica and Rui are not only good at their games but also derive a lot of fun in banters over who is better. But Monica who believes the sky is the limit for her is taking one step at a time.

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Monica Okoye is fine about being labeled as the sister of professional baseball player Rui Okoye — for now.

“I am where I am because of my (older) brother,” Okoye humbly said at the first training camp of the Japan women’s provisional national team in Tokyo on Tuesday. Her run so far in the Olympics is sure to earn her more roles

“I would like to eventually make people call Rui ‘the older brother of Monica,’ ” said Okoye, who joined the Women’s Japan Basketball League’s Denso Iris last season out of Myojo Gakuen High School of Tokyo

But come Monday Okoye will battle her compatriots in a tie which some say is mere formality for the Nigerians after losing two matches.