Nigeria will compete in the 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup holding in Manila, Philippines from June 8 to 12, 2018.
This followed the award of a wild card by the Federation of International Basketball Associations to Nigeria.
This latest decision was relayed through a letter to the Nigeria Basketball Federation under the leadership of Engineer Musa Kida by FIBA 3×3 Development Manager, Robert Rieblinger.
The 3×3 team, captained by Abdul Yahaya, won their first FIBA Africa 3×3 Nations Cup title in Lome, Togo recently, were deemed to be in good standing to be awarded the wildcard.
Nigeria is currently ranked fifth in Africa and 67th in the world and will be making their first appearance at the world stage in the history of the 3×3 World Cup, which started in 2017 and held in Nantes, France.
In his reaction, Kida thanked FIBA for the privilege accorded the federation and its players to be part of the 2018 world cup.
He said: “As part of our campaign promises, we will endeavour to expose our talents home and abroad to the best opportunities to improve their skills and become great.
“The promised exposure can only be possible through participation in international events such as this.”
Kida said the latest decision to award Nigeria a wildcard is a direct result of the improved status of the country as a basketball playing nation since they assumed office.
He said: “With another round of camping, traveling and participation of our 3×3 team at the World Cup already on the card, it means we will need more money to actualize these plans.
“The government alone cannot fund sports, so we will be reaching out to corporate organizations and individuals to partner the federation ahead of a busy 2018 basketball calendar.”