Basketball
NBBF name 12 for FIBA African World Cup qualifiers
The Nigeria Basketball Federation has released a 12-man roster for the third window of the FIBA African World Cup qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda between June 27 and July 5, 2022.
The team made up of Ikenna Ndugba (Greensboro Swarm, NBA G League), Uchenna Iroegbu (Free agent), Michael Okiki (Gombe Bulls), Ben Emelogu (Rouen Metropolitan, France), Michael Oriakhi (Rivers Hoopers), Michael Gbinijie (Santa Cruz Warriors, NBA G League) and Ibe Agu (Customs, Abuja) will be coached by Alan Major and assisted by Ogoh Odaudu.
Other players on the list are Chimezie Metu (Sacramento Kings), Victor Koko (Rivers Hoopers), Christian Mekowolu (Casademont Zaragoza, Spain), TK Edogi (Kolin, Czech Republic) and Emmanuel Omogbo (H.Izrael, Israel). NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida announced that Major will deputise for the team’s Head Coach, Mike Brown that just got named Coach of the Sacramento Kings.
Currently ranked first in Africa, Nigeria will open its campaign against Cape Verde on Friday, 1 July before taking on Mali on Saturday. The last game will be against Uganda on Sunday, 3 July at the BK arena in the capital city of Kigali. Nigeria sit atop group A with five points from three games.
During this window, 16 teams will compete for the second leg of matches earlier decided in November 2021 and March 2022. The top three teams from each group will advance to the second round where each team will play six games. The two top teams in each group, along with the best third-placed team, will qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
Basketball
Terfa Akpoyibo hail Sam Oguche/Bullet Energy Drink Invitational Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The Project Manager of Power Forward Mr Terfa Akpoyibo, has commended Sam Oguche for his constant effort towards basketball development in Nigeria.
Akpoyibo made the remarks while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the 2023 Sam Oguche/Bullet Energy Drink Invitational Tournament’s final at the Mo Arena in Abuja on Friday.
Akpoyibo noted that the quality of the tournament was top-notch, adding that grassroots basketball was taking shape and developing in the FCT.
The five-day tournament which dunked off on Monday ended on Friday with Gboko City Chiefs defeating Mak Town Flyers basketball club 90-77 in the final to emerge champions.
Gboko City Chiefs smiled to the bank with an N1 million prize money, while Mark Town basketball club settled for the N500,000 runners-up reward.
“The matches were tightly contested and it was a very competitive final game at the end between the two teams.
“What I am really excited about is the number of energetic young people having a platform and opportunity to express themselves.
“If these young people are not on the court, where would they have been?
“Some of them would have been out there engaging in negative vices as the saying goes, ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop’.
“So, I am happy because grassroots basketball is taking shape and when you see people train at the grassroots and then they have the opportunity to play professional and more competitive games, it means that the game of basketball is developing,” he said.
The Sports administrator stressed that the tournament was a huge opportunity and a very successful event.
NAN
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