We’ll do everything to qualify for FIBA 2023 World Cup, NBBF assures

• Names 15 man team for qualifiers

The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engr Ahmadu Musa Kida, has assured Nigerians that the federation will do everything possible to ensure the country qualifies for the FIBA 2023 World Cup hosted by Australia.

Kida said Nigeria is amongst the best basketball sports nations in Africa which are supposed to be at the world cup, adding that the federation will provide all necessary support to see that it happens that way.

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“We are one of the best teams in Africa, we have to be at the World Cup. As a federation, we will do everything within our power to deliver the World Cup ticket,” said the NBBF President.

The federation helmsman appealed to all stakeholders and Nigerians to throw their solemn support for the Nigerian senior men’s basketball team to qualify for the world cup.

Kida said, “We must all come together as Nigerians to support the team so that we can head the group before the final Qualifiers. The mood among the players and coaching staff and D’Tigers management team is high because the players are ready to make the country proud.”

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The federation named 15 players comprising 12 foreign-based and 3 home-based players to process the World Cup qualifiers in Abidjan next week.

Moreover, certain changes were made to the team, with five players, Emmanuel Omogbo, TK Edogi – Kolin, Michael Oriakhi, Victor Koko and Ikenna Ndugba, who played the third window qualifier in Kigali, Rwanda, dropped from the squad.

However, eight players including Josh Okogie (Phoenix Suns, NBA, USA), Olumiye Dimolu (Utah Jazz, NBA, USA), Ike Nwamu (BC Samara, Russia), Keith Omoerah (Jamtland, Sweden), Amanze Egezeke (Kataja Basket Club, Korisliiga, Finland), Abdul-Malik Abu (Oliver Wuerzburg, Basketball Bundesliga, Germany), Michael Oguine (Saint-Chamond, France), and John Mathias Iduh of Kano pillars, Nigeria, made the 15-man cut.

Kida, defending the squad list released on Sunday in Lagos, added that the technical crew believes this crop of players can pick the qualifying ticket for Nigeria in Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire.

“All the players on the team are Nigerians representing the country. These are players that the technical crew believes can get the job done during this window and we must give them our full support,” clarified the NBBF President.

Following the fourth quarter of the FIBA 2023 World Cup qualifier scheduled from August 26 – 28 in Abidjan, there is every indication that head coach Mike Brown, who was unavailable to lead the team in the third qualifying series, will be on ground to spur the squad to top Group E.

However, in the course of leading its campaign for the world cup ticket in Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria will tackle host Cote D’Ivoire on 26 while rounding up the contests with Angola on the 28, a day after battling Guinea on the 27th.