'I carry Nigeria with me' - Blessing Adebanjo eyes D'Tigress dream
For Blessing Adebanjo, the journey may have taken her far from home, but Nigeria has never left her.
The Lagos-born basketball prospect has opened up about her desire to represent D’Tigress, describing a potential call-up to the national team as the ultimate dream one she continues to chase as Nigeria prepares for a high-profile tour of the United States.
“Representing Nigeria would mean everything to me,” Adebanjo said in an interview with Kehinde Bamidele. “It would be a dream come true. I carry Nigeria with me everywhere I go.”
It’s a statement that captures both her ambition and her identity, a player shaped by Nigerian roots, now refining her craft on the global stage.
Adebanjo’s basketball journey began at home, where she featured for Deep Waters, MFM, and First Bank before taking her talents abroad. Her development has since spanned Japan and the United States, exposing her to different systems, styles, and levels of competition.
Now based in the U.S., she recently wrapped up a season with the University of Arizona, a campaign that, while limited in minutes, offered glimpses of her growing potential.
In just over 10 minutes per game, the forward averaged 3.7 points and 2.5 rebounds, shooting an efficient 50 percent from the field. But it was on the defensive end that she truly made her presence felt, ranking in the 92nd percentile for blocks.
As the season progressed, so did her influence.
Over her final eight games, Adebanjo stepped into a more prominent role, averaging 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, earning four starts along the way. Her standout performance came against Kansas State, where she delivered a commanding display of 17 points and six blocks a performance that underlined her two-way potential.
Despite her steady rise, a call from D’Tigress is yet to come. Still, Adebanjo remains patient and ready.
“I’m open and ready,” she said, making it clear that the door is wide open should Nigeria come calling.
Her next move will see her enter the NCAA transfer portal, a step aimed at securing more playing time and accelerating her development. It’s another chapter in a journey that has already taken her through Japan’s Yamanashi Gakuin University following her time at the Japan Aviation Academy.
Meanwhile, D’Tigress are gearing up for a demanding stretch of international friendlies in the United States, where they will face WNBA sides including the Minnesota Lynx, Los Angeles Sparks and Indiana Fever.
The tour serves as part of their preparations for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in September, a tournament they enter as reigning African champions after clinching a record fifth consecutive AfroBasket title in 2025.
With spots up for grabs and competition intensifying, the upcoming games could open the door for emerging talents.
And for Adebanjo, watching from afar but ready to step in, the message is simple: when the opportunity comes, she’ll be prepared to answer for Nigeria.
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