The Nigeria Basketball Ball Federation (NBBF) on Wednesday expressed confidence in the national men’s team, D’Tigers’ ability to excel at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Alex Nwora-led coaching crew released the team list for the Games on Tuesday.
The team, made up of six home-based players and six foreign-based, would be captained by Ike Diogu of the Henan Basketball Club of China.
The Commonwealth Games will start from April 2 and end on April 15.
Ogunade told NAN on telephone in Lagos: “The players did well in the recent Africa qualifiers in Mali which saw them defeating all three opponents convincingly.
“The current D’Tigers players will have to be at their best to overcome their group games against Canada, New Zealand and host, Australia.
“Once they overcome the group challenge, I am confident that they can go far in the competition which will give them credibility in future selections,’’ Ogunade said.
“The players know what is at stake for them; if they prove their worth and meet the stuff their coach wants, they will be considered in the future.
“Other players which would have been used are tied up with their clubs’ responsibilities in Europe, U.S and Asia.
“However, this is not disrespecting the current D’Tigers squad but to say that it gives them the opportunity to showcase their talents and make themselves marketable at the world stage,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the players include Diogu and Uchenna Ireogu of Stonny Brooks, U.S.
Orizu Prince who plies his trade in the far away Eastern University in the Philippines, Olatunji Olalekan, Uchechi Ofoegbu and Onyekachi Achiuwa.
The home-based players are led by Dike Azouma, Abdul Yahaya and Dung Ibrahim of Kano Pillars.
Others are Musa Usman of Mark Mentors of Abuja, Abdulwahab Yakubu and Istifanus Sylvannus of Gombe Bulls.
According to NBBF, the team will depart for Brisbane on March 23 ahead of their first group game against New Zealand on April 6.
NAN reports that Nigeria, which finished 8th in the 2014 edition of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, will feature in nine out of the 20 sports in the 2018 edition in Queensland, Australia.
Nigeria will participate in athletics, para athletics, para powerlifting, para table tennis, table tennis, weightlifting, boxing, basketball and wrestling.
NAN reports that the Commonwealth Games will feature 275 events in 18 sports with 70 countries participating.
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