The Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) has released an 18-man list for the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers scheduled to hold in Bamako, Mali, from 23rd to 25th February 2018.
The list included five players from the 2017 AfroBasket silver-winning team in Tunisia, including three home-based players and two from the 2015 Afrobasket winning squad.
Players who made the list include:
Agua Caliente Clippers’ Ikechukwu Ireogbu, Ike Nwamu (Sioux Falls Skyforce), Chile-based Bryant Mbamalu (CD Vildivia), China-based Ike Diogu (Schun Blue Whales) and Turkey-based Ayodeji Akindele (Belediye Spor), who were at the 2017 Afrobasket, made the list alongside Eli Abraham (Kano Pillars), Abdulwahab Yakubu (Gombe Bulls) and Musa Usman Mohammed (Mark Mentors).
Ben Uzoh (unattached), Michael Gbinijie (Santa Cruz Warriors, USA) were also recalled to the national team after missing out on the 2017 Nations Cup co-hosted by Senegal and Tunisia.
Others who made the cut include Ofoegbu Chima, Ojo Adetokunbo (Worcester Wolves, UK), Mike Efevbeha (Sagesse, Lebanon), Obi Emenago (Rouen Basket, France), Omogbo Emmanuel (Pesaro, Italy), Nwogbo Afam (Sendai 89ers, Japan), Talib Zanna (Ironi Nes-Ziona, Israel) and Christopher Ewaoche (Tranzaspor, Turkey).
The NBBF has made arrangements for foreign-based players to meet up with the squad and team officials in Bamako, Mali on the 19th.
Speaking on the process, NBBF President, Musa Kida said, “Due to the FIBA calendar, which opens on the 19th, which is just about four days to the D’Tigers first game, telling all players to come to Nigeria before travelling to Mali will be mission impossible.
We are expecting players from Europe, North America, South America and Asia, so we thought it wise that instead of going through the travelling stress ahead of the qualifiers, they should just report straight to Bamako”.
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