The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Tijani Umar, remains confident that Nigeria’s male basketball team, D’Tigers, will get a wild card entry to participate in next year’s world basketball championships billed for Turkey, once the ruling body agrees to give the privilege to any African country.
“Let me be honest with you, we have got words from them that if any African country would be considered, it is Nigeria that would get the slot; the two other contenders (Mali and Cameroun) have no standing against us,” he said.
Nigeria came fifth at the Africa Championship for men in Libya where three tickets were up for grabs to the top three finishers.
Umar pointed out that other considerations outside the positioning will be used in picking the lucky country.
FIBA criteria
According to the International Basketball Federation, other requirements, which may qualify a team for the wild card entry include the sporting aspect, which comprises the popularity of basketball in the country, quality and sporting results of the country’s national team, popular players playing in top leagues and economic considerations like the involvement of local television station(s) and/or competition(s) in domestic and international basketball, in which Nigeria seems to be ahead of the other two contenders – Cameroun and Mali.
Though not happy that Nigeria is seeking participation via a wild card, he pointed out that is the only option left for the country, hence the need to pursue it vigorously.
Local players
Umar watched the finals of the Men’s Basketball league in which Kano Pillars emerged champions in a thrilling final game defeating Lagos Islanders 83-72 points. He was full of praises for the local players, who he admitted might have made the difference if allowed to go to Afrobasket basketball championship in Libya where the D’Tigers failed to secure qualification.
“I regret not taking these boys along. Right now in my pocket I already have a draft of names that we can start something with,” he said.