After a grueling camping exercise in the United States of America the coaching crew of the senior men national team led by John Harding Lucas-II have short listed twelve players from the USA camp and four from the camp conducted in Kaduna, Nigeria the team assistant coach, Sani Ahmed.
The twelve foreign-based players includes, Joshua Akognon, Michael Umeh, Michael Efevberha, Ebikekeme Ere, Jayson Obazuaye, Gabe Muoneke, Ejike Ugbaja, Aloysius Anagonye, Ayodeji Akindele, Benson Egemonye, Akinlolu Akingbala and Chamberlain Oguchi while the four home-based players are former team captain, Abdulrahman Mohammed of Nigeria Customs basketball club, Abubakar Usman of Niger Potters, Stanley Gumut of Niger Potters and Ibrahim Yusuf of Kano Pillars basketball club.
The president of the NBBF, Tijjani Umar says all sixteen players will be accorded equal chance of vying for a place in the final 12-man list that will fly the country flag in Libya.
The team is expected to have its final work-out in Abuja on Wednesday (July 29).
Imeh Udoka, formerly of the San Antonio Spurs who is now a free agent is waiting in the wings while he sorts out his next career move, meanwhile the team will now be hosted to a farewell dinner in Abuja on Friday and fly out to Libya at the weekend.
Nigeria is in Group-A alongside host, Libya, Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa for her first round matches.
By Olusegun Ikuesan
FIBA Africa