Members of the senior national men’s team, D’Tigers, on Wednesday said that they were always excited over any opportunity to represent their fatherland and would do everything for the team’s success.
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D’Tigers guard, Ikechukwu Nwamu, has set his sight on learning as much as possible from the experienced members of the squad as they prepare for the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers starting on Friday.
The 12-man team expected to report to camp on September 6 will be headlined by Portland Trail Blazers’ Al-Farouq Aminu, who last featured for Nigeria in 2015 when the team played in the FIBA Afrobasket.
He said that Stan Okoye, Olaseni Lawal, Al-Farouk, Alade Aminu and Chamberlain Oguchi, who had yet to contribute their qualities to the current squad had been seriously engaged in club duties.
Nwora made this known after the team narrowly lost to world number 1, United States of America, at the weekend in the finals of the PEAK international invitational tournament in China.
The decision to award the hosting the rights of the fourth window of the qualifiers was contained in a letter sent to the Nigeria Basketball Federation secretariat by FIBA Africa Secretary General, Alphonse Bile, on Friday
The University of Louisville undergraduate, who has been tipped by many as a first round pick in the NBA draft next year, said it was a great feeling having the opportunity to represent Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that D’Tigers defeated the national teams from Rwanda, Uganda and Mali in the just-concluded FIBA 2019 World Cup Qualifiers which held in Lagos from June 29 to July 1.
Having thrashed Uganda and Rwanda in their previous games, the Nigerian side consolidated her lead in the series by winning the first and second quarters by 22-15 and 25-10 points
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the competition which started on June 29 will end on July 1, at the Indoor Sports Hall in Surulere, Lagos.
In the first quarter, the Alex Nwora-led side led by 30-21 points, just as the African champions extended the lead by 21-14 before the break
The 12-man list announced at the team’s last training session on Thursday will be headlined by Sinchuan Blue Whales player and captain, Ike Diogu.
Nwora told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the team had the depth and quality to win all matches and called for home support for the team.
Nigeria’s D’Tigers who were victorious in the first round played in Mali in 2017, look set to do justice to this year’s round which will hold from June 29 to July 1.
The nine players, made up of Emenago Obinna, Omoerah Keith Saido, Braxton Ogbueze Jai, Mbamalu Bryant, Agada Caleb Apochi, Moses Kingsley, Mehinti Tosin and Okosun Obehioye, had a light workout with special focus on offensive moves and ball works.
After a flawless first leg qualifier held in Bamako, Mali, D’Tigers is aiming to sustain her winning streak when they begin their campaign on June 29 in Lagos.
Both players, who last featured for the senior national teams at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, have been recalled by D’Tigers Head Coach, Alex Nwora, for the crunchy games against Mali, Rwanda and Uganda.
The four-man team, which departed from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos aboard a Qatar Airways flight, was led by the Director of 3×3 Nigeria, Frank Jituboh.
Afolabi Oni, the faction’s Media Officer, said in a statement that the decision on the changes, which are with immediate effect, was taken after a review of the national teams’ activities.
But with the rules guiding the games, the 2015 FIBA AfroBasket champions still have a lifeline to remain in the competition and also compete for a medal.