By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engr. Ahmad Musa Kida, has called on Nigerians to throw their full support behind the senior men’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, as they begin their campaign in the FIBA Africa Basketball World Cup Qualifiers.
Nigeria has been drawn in a tough Group E alongside Cameroon, South Sudan, Cabo Verde, Tunisia and Guinea in the race for qualification to the next FIBA Basketball World Cup.
D’Tigers will open their qualifying campaign against regional rivals Cameroon on August 27 before taking on South Sudan on August 28. The team will conclude the opening qualification window against Cabo Verde on August 30.
Kida said the support of Nigerians, corporate organizations and other stakeholders would serve as a major source of motivation for the players and technical crew as they battle some of Africa’s strongest basketball nations.
He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to compete favourably despite the highly competitive nature of the group, urging fans across the country to remain united behind the national team throughout the qualification campaign.
Nigeria heads into the qualifiers with encouraging records against some of its opponents. D’Tigers have won three of their four previous meetings with Cameroon and both of their earlier encounters with South Sudan. However, Cabo Verde remains a difficult opponent, with Nigeria recording only one victory in six previous meetings.kid
With qualification spots for the global tournament at stake, D’Tigers will be looking to make a strong start in Group E and boost their chances of securing a place at the next FIBA Basketball World Cup.
