FIBA Commends D’Tigers On Early World Cup Qualification
Achem Samuel
Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA), has sent a congratulatory letter to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for their early qualification for the 2019 Men’s Cup in China.
D’Tigers are the first team in the world to qualify for the tournament following their 9-match winning streak with which they accrued a total of 18 points to qualify for the worlds with three games left to play.
In the letter, the FIBA Secretary General, Patrick Baumann, acknowledged the dexterity and resilience of the Nigerian team, stating that the NBBF should be quite proud of the team’s efforts in qualifying before top basketball nations of the world.
“Allow me to sincerely congratulate you, your National Federation and your players, on behalf also of our president, Mr Muratore on the qualification of your National Team to the FIBA Basketball World Cup which will be held in China next summer.
“As we embarked on a new era with the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers, your early successful qualification, well before the end of the qualifications is a testimony to the strength of your team and of basketball in your country. Your Federation and its National Team can be proud of having achieved this important milestone and being part of the journey to China.”
— Baumann
Nigerians are proud of the basketball federation, more-so since D’Tigress stunned the world at the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Tenerife.
All eyes will now be on the D’Tigers as they take on the best teams in the world next year, and hopefully do more than than our girls did at the world championship.