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Nigeria’s D’Tigers begin qualification for AfroCan Basketball Championship
BY MAXWELL KUMOYE
Nigeria’s male senior national team D’Tigers will begin their quest to reach the finals of the 2023 African Basketball Championship scheduled to hold in July in Angola.
The qualifiers begin this Friday at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, Abidjan the Ivorian capital.
The12- man team breezed into Abidjan on Thursday from Lagos.
The President of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Ahmadu Kida said travelling by road to Abidjan was never in the Federation’s plan for D’Tigers.
“If well planned in advance, a team can travel by road or ship to Abidjan but as has been our custom and tradition in the NBBF, we make sure all the national team players get the very best travelling experience and that’s what we offered them.” Kida stated.
He further explained that out-right falsehood, half truth and innuendos by a particular online publication in recent times will not be treated lightly again as it’s damaging the domestic game and equally driving away the much needed sponsorship from both the government and the private sector.
Three countries from FIBA Africa Zone 3 and one country from Zone 2 are in Abidjan to fight for the sole ticket from the combine Zone 2 and 3 make shift arrangement by FIBA Africa for next month quadrangle AfroCan Championship in Luanda, Angola next month.
FIBA Africa had to hurriedly arrange this make shift Qualifiers due to the fact that seven countries from domant FIBA Africa Zone 2 did not register for the Qualifiers while five other countries in the inactive Zone 3 turned a blind eye to the event.
Countries from Zone 3 that are in the Ivorian capital are Benin Republic, host nation Cote d’Ivoire and Africa’s number one slamming and dunking country, Nigeria. Guinea is holding it down for Zone 2 in Abidjan.
The opening match of the AfroCan Basketball Qualifiers is the confrontation between host Cote d’Ivoire against new comers Benin while hot favourite D’Tigers of Nigeria under the stewardship of coach Ogoh Odaudu will file out against familiar face Guinea in the second game of Match Day 1.
The head Coach of D’Tigers, Ogoh Odaudu, said that the team is in Abidjan for serious business and to get the job done.
Ogoh Odaudu, who led the D’Tigers to a remarkable outing in the sixth and final Window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Angola in February this year has assembled a twelve man team that will surely give Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea and first timers Benin Republic a run for their money when the Qualifiers tips off today.
Ogoh Odaudu is in Abidjan with the same technical crew, Baba Jubril and Abdulrahman Mohammed. He is confident of a good showing. The roster consists of nine players of the team that represented Nigeria at the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Angola in February this year.
Abdulwahab Yakubu, Israel Otobo and Lekan Olatunji make way for Bayo Oduleye, Tolani Buhari and Abba Adamu Adam.
“We’re not here for sightseeing but strictly for business. Our target is to get the qualification ticket first and then prepare for the bigger battle. Our participation in 2019 was a learning experience and we don’t want to let this opportunity slip off our fingers,” he stated.
Nigeria, finished second from bottom during the maiden edition of the AfroCan in 2019 and the country is eagerly looking forward to returning to the championship in Angola.
The winner of this qualifier will be added to Group A in the 2023 AfroCan alongside Kenya and Gabon. It’s the last qualifying ticket for the 12-nation AfroCan as FIBA Africa will attribute one wildcard to complete the tournament’s line-up.
Host Cote d’Ivoire are the biggest threat to Nigeria picking the ticket in Abidjan.
Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire met twice during the World Cup qualifiers in Abidjan and Luanda.
D’Tigers lost in Abidjan but defeated Cote d’Ivoire in Luanda. D’Tigers also met Guinea on two occasions during the World Cup Qualifiers and they won both games.
At the last AfroCan finals, Cote D’Ivoire were a step above Nigeria on the table while Guinea was first from the rear in 2019. Benin Republic will be hoping to reach the finals for the first time.
The coach of the Cheetahs of Benin Republic, Assad John Kadi, has seven members of Elan Coton Basketball Club, winners of the Benin League to produce the fire power and much needed chemistry for them to succeed at the Qualifiers after two weeks of grueling camping program.
NIGERIA TEAM LIST:
✓ Anaiye Johnson Ojoneka
✓ Anyaoha Wisdom Christian
✓ Ezeh Victor Tochukwu
✓ Oduleye Adebayo Adebola
✓ Chimbuo Chinedu Martins
✓ Afuwape Michael Okiki
✓ Daramola Michael Ilerioluwa
✓ Odufuwa Kanyinsola Joseph
✓ Agu Ibe Abuchi
✓ Koko Victor Anthony
✓ Buhari Tolani Ibrahim
✓ Adamu Adam Abba
COACHES:
✓ Ogoh Odaudu – Head Coach
✓ Baba Jibril – Assistant Coach
✓ Abdulrahman Mohammed – Assistant Coach
Match fixtures
JUNE 30 (Friday)
- Cote d’Ivoire vs Benin
- Nigeria vs Guinea
JULY 01 (Saturday)
- Guinea vs Cote d’Ivoire
- Benin Republic vs Nigeria
JULY 02 (Sunday)
- Cote d’Ivoire vs Nigeria
- Guinea vs Benin Republic
UEFA appears poised for an emergency vote on suspending Israel from European competition next week, with national federations scrambling to position themselves amid mounting political pressure following calls for action.
The brewing crisis intensified this week when United Nations experts called for Israel’s suspension from international football amid the unfolding genocide in occupied Palestinian territory.
A source confirmed that Europe’s soccer body could potentially decide next week to vote on whether to suspend Israel from European competition.
Should UEFA vote to ban Israel, it would put the organisation on a collision course with the government of the United States — co-hosts for the 2026 World Cup — which is vehemently against such a motion.
“We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel’s national soccer team from the World Cup,” a spokesperson for the U.S. state department told Sky News.
But even though UEFA has the power to suspend Israel or its clubs from their competitions, it may not be able to stop them from competing in World Cup qualifiers, which fall under the ambit of global soccer body FIFA.
The general secretaries of all UEFA national associations are meeting this week in Marbella, where Israel is not officially on the agenda, but officials expect UEFA to call an emergency vote next week.
FIFA did not respond to a Reuters request for comment while UEFA declined to comment.
Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub said Israelis should not be allowed to participate in any matches, whether they are under UEFA or FIFA.
“Israel has violated the principles, values and FIFA’s statutes. Therefore, I believe that Israel should be sanctioned,” Rajoub told TV2.
“The sanctions should come from UEFA and FIFA.”
WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Israel’s national team are set to face Norway and Italy, the top two teams in their World Cup qualifying group, next month.
“We don’t have any indications that we are facing such an act (UEFA suspension),” a spokesperson for the Israel Football Association told Reuters.
“We are focusing on our international matches against Norway and Italy.”
Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is one of the member associations that have been the driving force behind calling for a meeting on the Israel situation. The NFF declined to comment.
Lise Klaveness, the president of the NFF and a member of the UEFA Executive Committee, has also been vocal about the crisis in Gaza ahead of her country’s home game against Israel on October 11.
“Neither we nor other organisations can remain indifferent to the humanitarian suffering and disproportionate attacks that the civilian population in Gaza has been subjected to for a long time,” Klaveness said in a statement last month.
“We want to donate the proceeds (from the game) to a humanitarian organisation that saves lives in Gaza every day and provides active emergency aid on the ground.”
The Dutch football federation (KNVB) said it knows nothing about a vote to suspend Israel.
“As soon as the football association receives a message about this, it will take a position,” the KNVB told Dutch outlet NOS.
Last week, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Israel should be banned from international sports competitions. However, officials from the Spanish FA (RFEF) have kept a low profile on the matter.
Israel maintains that its war is not against the population of Gaza but against the Hamas militant group whose fighters led the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and precipitated the war.
The subsequent war in Gaza has killed more than 65,000 people, according to local health officials.
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A hat-trick from George Agha and a sublime free-kick goal from David Edeh ensured a comfortable start for five-time world champions Nigeria in the WAFU-B U17 Championship, as the Golden Eaglets routed Baby Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4 -1 in Yamoussoukro on Wednesday.
Agha converted from the spot three minutes into the game after Boluwatife Thompson was hacked inside the box.
Edeh displayed fantastic football artistry to score from a free-kick in the 5th minute of the encounter.
The Eaglets were in cruise control as Agha bagged his brace in the 14th minute. The charges of Manu Garba were very dominant with a three-goal advantage.
Warris Soumanou in goal for Benin Republic was caught napping and his error of judgement gave the Eaglets another goal after a beautiful exchange of passes and dribbles between Thompson and Edeh, which set up Agha for his hat-trick in the 32nd minute.
It was raining goals and it was the turn of the Beninoise in the 45th minute, as a low drive from Jeremy Zannou gave the Baby Cheetahs a consolation goal.
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Mohamed Salah’s dramatic stoppage-time penalty ensured Liverpool maintained their winning start to the Premier League season with a 1-0 victory at promoted side Burnley on Sunday.
With British record signing Alexander Isak forced to wait for his Liverpool debut having been left out the squad for the trip to Lancashire, the champions struggled to break down a dogged home side in the first half.
After a regroup at the break, the visitors upped the ante in the second half, with Dominik Szoboszlai finally forcing a fine save from Martin Dubravka in the Burnley goal.
Burnley were holding on for a well-earned point with ease, before the ball agonisingly struck substitute Hannibal Mejbri’s arm in the penalty area and Salah slotted the spot kick into the net in the 95th minute to break home hearts.
Liverpool are still to really get going this season, requiring a winner in the last 10 minutes of all four of their league victories so far. The goal that clinched an undeserved success at Turf Moor was certainly the most fortunate.
After one of the longest transfer sagas in Premier League history finally reached its expected conclusion, Liverpool supporters were forced to wait two weeks for their first glimpse of their 125-million-pound ($169.45-million) goal machine due to the international break.
While coach Arne Slot said this week that Isak would have to be utilised carefully due to his previous injuries and lack of action so far this season, the Swede was still expected to at least be on the bench at Turf Moor.
The wait goes on as, without their expensive new forward, Liverpool mustered just one shot on target in the first half, from left-back Andrew Robertson.
Burnley, who conceded the fewest goals in English football league history last term to earn them promotion, otherwise frustrated the champions with ease. Even Lesley Ugochukwu’s red card for two bookings in the 84th minute did not seem to fluster them.
Even without Isak, Liverpool still had much attacking talent on the Turf Moor pitch but they just could not find that killer pass.
Salah was especially below par but he made no mistake in the most pressurised moment after Hannibal had stuck up an arm to block Jeremie Frimpong’s cross
The champions’ impressive Premier League goalscoring streak stretches to 38 games nonetheless, their longest such run in the competition.
-Reuters
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