Basketball in Africa

As the jump-ball date for the 21st FIBA Africa Championship for Women draws closer, handlers of the Nigeria senior women national team, D’Tigress led by Coach Ayo Bakare are almost through with the final list of the Nigeria team as they intensify preparation for the championship.

The former Africa champion (2003 and 2005) Monday cut down it size with the dropping of two players from the list of fifteen players made up of six foreign-based and nine home-based players bringing the number of players left in camp to thirteen.

The two dropped players, Ijeoma Uchendu and Ima-obong Ekebo were praised by the coaches for their contribution towards the country qualification for the final round of the continent biggest women basketball competition.

The thirteen remaining players from where a list of twelve players will picked include, Mfon Udoka, Rashidat Sadiq, Funmilayo Ojelabi, Nkechi Akashili, Vera Angwe-Ellong, Tamunomiete Whyte, Magdalene Ukato, Vivian Ewalefo, Charity Egenti, Chioma Udeaja, Adeola Olanrewaju, Amaka Adibeli and Mactabene Amachree.

Coach Bakare says the two players still have age on their side and should be ready for the big occasion in future, he, however added that the team final 12-list that will be paraded in Antananarivo, Madagascar next month will be unveiled Thursday and confirm Mfon Udoka as team captain.

“It was a difficult task coming to term with which player to drop but some must actually give way since the Nigeria Basketball Federation, (NBBF) does not have the fund to go to Madagascar with fifteen players, concluded Coach Bakare.

The team has lined-up two friendly games against First Bank basketball club and First Deepwater Basketball Club.