Basketball

2021 FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers: Nigeria choose 12

Nigerian basketball has extended an invitation to 12 players for the final camp ahead of the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers to be held between Wednesday, 17th of February and Sunday, 21st of February.

With Nigeria sitting comfortably atop group B after beating Rwanda, Mali and South Sudan, all eyes will be focused on the reverse fixtures which will be hosted in Tunisia.

Nigerians are expected to be treated to ‘champagne basketball’ by their team when the players converge on Monastir for the third window after 6 players from France were handed a call up.

Ifeoluwa Ajayi (Hermine Nantes), Said Hearst-Okpalannaka (Antibas), Nwachukwu Moneke may make their international debut for Nigeria after they were handed an invitation alongside a member of the 2017 Afrobasket silver winning team, Ike Nwamu (Cholet) who are all based in France.

Spain-based shooting guard; Obinna Emegano with Fuenlabrada makes a return to the team alongside Ben Uzoh.

Ike Diogu was also not left out of the team alongside Ike Iroegbu who emerged as one of the top performers during the last qualifying series averaging 15.7 points as Nigeria dominated group B.

Turkey-based power forward, Abdul-Malik Abu and Michael Oguine will also team up with Michael Gbinije, Caleb Agada under the tutelage of Coach Mfon Udofia who will be standing in for Coach Mike Brown.

Meanwhile, some players have also been put on notice pending the conclusion and outcome of players registration by the Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA).

 Full List

v  Obinna Emegano                   (Point Guard,  Fuenlabrada, Spain)

v  Ben Uzoh                                (Point Guard, Paris Basketball, France)

v  Ike  Diogu

v  Ifeoluwa Ajayi                        (Small Forward, Harmine Nantes, France)

v  Nwachukwu Moneke              (Power Forward, Orléans Loiret Basket, France)

v  Michael Oguine                       (Point Guard, Souffelweyersheim, France)

v  Ike Nwamu                             (Point Guard, Cholet, France)

v  Ike Iroegbu                             (Point Guard, SC Rasta Vechta, Germany)

v  Said Hearst-Okpalannaka       (Shooting Guard, Antibas, France)

v  Abdul-Malik Abu                   (Power Forward, Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor, Turkey)

v  Mike Gbinije                           (Shooting guard, BC Nevėžis)

v  Caleb Agada                           (Point Guard, Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Tom Kirkwood

Recent Posts

Marathon magic in New York and Soweto

Competitive racing was the order of the day at the TCS New York City Marathon…

16 hours ago

Mainz 05 Inspires Youth at Totalsport Safe-Hub in Alexandra

A coaching team from Bundesliga club 1.FSV Mainz 05 visited Totalsport Safe-Hub in Alexandra for…

6 days ago

Spotlight on African basketball talent and milestones as NBA’s 2024/25 season takes off

An NBA season packed with African talent and colourful courts is underway, with games available…

1 week ago

Tsitsikamma and Trail Running – setting the gold standard for inclusive conservation

Victor Mokoena and his team in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park…

2 weeks ago

Xaba and Tola re-write the record books at Sanlam’s Cape Town Marathon

Rising Ethiopian marathon star, Abdisa Tola, and South Africa’s running great, Glenrose ‘Supercharger’ Xaba, created…

3 weeks ago

Collin and Tayla shine on Day One of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon weekend

Zimbabwean Collin Kanyimo and British athlete Catherine Williamson took the trail honours in the 44km…

3 weeks ago