23 February 2006

NIGERIA: Odaudu, Gagara hit camp for commonwealth Games

The Nigeria men basketball camp receive a boost Wednesday with the arrival of two foreign based players, Korea based Ogo Odaudu and Nuwaidrat basketball club of Baharain point guard, Priwitt Gagara.

The former Ebun Comets basketball club of Akure point guards teamed up with their colleagues whi have been in camp four weeks ago.

The two players are expected to bring their wealth of experiance to bear when Nigeria battle for one of the semi-finals ticket against its group-A opponent which comprises of Oceania basketball power-house and host of the 25th Commonwealth Games, Australia, India and Scotland.

The Nigeria chief coach, Sani Ahmed told www.nigeriasports.com in an exclusive interview last weekend that the players are set to do themselves and the nation proud by not only qualifying from the group but making it to the final.

Only Nigeria most celebrated basketball players, Olumide Oyedeji who ply his trade in the Korean league with Seoul Samsung Thunders basketball club is still been expected as compatriot Gabe Muoneke Seoul SK Knights basketball club is doubtful due to injury.

Oyedeji told nigeriasports.com from his Korea base that the team will appraoch each game as they come.

Nigeria will take on India on March 17 a game the team is expected to win since India is not known possess rich basketball pedegee but will have its hands full against co-Fiba World Championship and host Australia on March 19 and will round up its group game against the Scots on March 20.

The Nigeria women coached by Scott Nnaji with assistance from Adewumi Aderemi and Shola Ogunade will open its Commonwealth campaign against Malaysia on March 17, on March 19 the Mfon Udoka captain side will take to the court against Malta as she is expected to undo New Zealand on March 20.

Analysts predict that though the Nigeria women seems more favoured over their men counterpart to advance to the medal stage but aver that the men with proper coordination can pick a semi final slot too if it take two games off India and Scotland whose basketball pedegree are as not as rich as that of Nigeria.

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