Basketball: Nigeria names squad for 2013 Afrobasket

Bamidele Olowosagba

The Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, has announced the 12 players that would represent the country’s male national team, D’Tigers, at the 2013 Afrobasket holding from 21-30 August in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Most of the invited players were part of the team that qualified and represented Nigeria in the basketball event at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Top on the list are Olumide Oyedeji, who is the captain of the team, Abdulwahab Alade Aminu, Alfarouk Ajadi Aminu, Andy Obinna Ogide, Ben Chukwukelo Uzoh, Chamberlain Nnaemeka Oguchi and Gani Oladimeji Lawal.

Others are Ike Diogu, Jamaal Olasewere, Richard Chukwuma Oruche, Stanley Gumut and Stan Chukwuemeka Okoye.

The technical crew of the team will be led by coach Ayodele Bakare and assisted by Sani Ahmed, Ayinla Johnson, Ogoh Odaudu and Abdulrahman Mohammed.

The team’s doctor is Dr. Suleiman Ohida and physiotherapist is Ekundayo Ogunkunle.

According to the team’s schedule made available to P.M.NEWS Sport by the Media Officer of NBBF, Patrick Omorodion, the D’Tigers would arrive Lagos Saturday morning from their training camp in Orlando, Florida on Virgin Atlantic.

The D’Tigers would thereafter fly to Abuja on Medview for a brief reception to be hosted by NBBF and would likely be attended by the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, to formally bid the team a successful championship in Cote d’Ivoire.

The team would depart Abuja for Abidjan on Sunday, 18 August, 2013.

A 35-man team of supporters of Nigeria’s basketball team, the Hoopers, are expected to depart for Abidjan on Monday to cheer the D’Tigers as they aim to win the Afrobasket title for the first time.

Chairman, Disciplinary Committee of the Hoopers, Alhaji Nasiru Mohammed, who disclosed this Friday in Lagos said they are ready to cheer the team to success as they had always done since 1996.

“We are going there to give the team all our support. We pray the National Sport Commission supports our effort,” Mohammed said.

Nigeria play their first match against Mali on Tuesday.