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Nigeria withdraws from African U-18 basketball

Pius Ayinor
Nigeria Basketball Federation has withdrawn from the FIBA Africa Zone Three U-18 Championship for boys and girls scheduled to hold from July 2 to 9 in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. The competition is the qualifiers for the FIBA Africa U-18 championship scheduled for Kigali, Rwanda in October. The winners and runners-up in Rwanda will represent Africa at the 2017 World U-19 Championships for men and women.
The PUNCH learnt that FIBA Africa Zone 3 was informed of Nigeria’s withdrawal via an email on June 27. No reason was given for the country’s withdrawal.
FIBA Africa Zone 3 president, Col Sam Ahmedu (rted), told our correspondent he got a call from FIBA Africa official announcing Nigeria’s decision to withdraw.
He said, “It is indeed a sad development that Nigeria, which is one of the top countries in the zone is withdrawing at the eleventh hour for a tournament it registered for over four months ago.
“This will no doubt take some shine off the championship. Coming on the heels of the recent visa imbroglio which denied the national U-17 girls team travelling to Spain for the world championship, it means that our Nigerian youths will not be participating in any international tournament this year.”
Ahmedu also said all arrangements have been concluded for the Zone 3 qualifiers fixed for the Halle des Arts, Cotonou, on Saturday.

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