Shame OF A Nation! Funds Knock Out Nigeria From FIBA World Cup

An oil-rich country such as Nigeria will not be taking part in this year’s FIBA World Championships for the female U-19 and the Africa Championships for U-16 Men and Women.

P.M.Sports reports that the National Sports Commission, NSC, has told Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, to pull out of the 2011 FIBA World Championship for U-19 Women slated for Chile from 21-31 July and the Africa Championships for U-16 Men and Women scheduled for Egypt from 8-17 July and 22-31 July respectively.

It was gathered that NBBF is unable to secure funds from the Sports Ministry to fund their trips to the interntaional tourneys because its is financially handicapped as a result of the non-implementation of the 2011 budget by the Nigerian government.

The NSC, which is impressed with the progress made so far by the NBBF to prepapre Nigerian teams for the tourneys, told the federation at the last minute of its inability to secure funds.

The NBBF has been camping Nigerian ladies for the tourneys both in Nigeria and the U.S. in the last few weeks in order to prepare very well for the competitions with huge sums of money invested in the preparation only for the NSC to come out with the bombshell in the last minute.

The Media Officer of the NBBF, Olusegun Ikuesan, expressed displeasure over the development, saying, “It is sad that the efforts of the federation to prepare the teams will be wasted on account of the inability of our rich nation to discharge its obligations to its youths.”

Also reflecting on the matter, erstwhile coach of the national team, Agboola Pinheiro said: “It’s bad for the development of the game in the country and the development of our youths. If basketball that ranks second to soccer in terms of popularity in this country and all over the world can be treated this way, one can only imagine what other sports will be going through.”.

The 2011 FIBA World Championship would have been a unique opportunity to showcase a purposeful team with legitimate chances of finishing in the medal bracket.

The national U-19 Women team qualified alongside Egypt to represent Africa at the FIBA U-19 Championship in Chile as runners-up at the Afrobasket U-18 finals in Cairo last year.

—Bamidele Olowosagba