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Both players were informed by the ruling basketball body of their ineligibility to play for Nigeria owing to “substantial involvement’’ with the United States basketball team for more than ten years.
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“We do tacitly believe there are undercurrents and motivation for such a decision which is repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience. It is also out rightly discriminatory because players of African descent are approved to play for other countries constantly but the reverse is not the case.” NBBF
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It will be recalled that both players gained the consent of USA basketball to feature for Nigeria after paying an administrative fee of $10,000. Both players also hold Nigerian passports. FIBA rule states that players that have featured for the USA in any FIBA-sanctioned competition after their 17th birthday are not eligible to play for another country in a FIBA tournament. However, the appeal submitted by the NBBF hinges on the fact that FIBA regulations on player eligibility posit that the secretary-general can authorise a player to play for his/her country of origin if it will help the growth of basketball in the country. Source: Premium Times Featured Image Source: The Spun
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