By JOE APU
Ahead of the FIBA U-17 Women’s World Championship billed for Zaragoza, Spain, one of Nigeria’s group opponents, Japan has rolled out her final squad for the championship.
Japan confirmed the 12 players who will step out at the fourth edition of the FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship with Izumi Abe and Itsuki Hashiguchi who led their team to the Final at last year’s FIBA Asia U16 Women’s Championship, where they were overpowered by eventual champions and fierce rivals China making the cut.
Currently, the Nigerian squad is camping in Abuja from where they will head to Portugal for another two weeks of camping before the final 12 will be announced by Coach Adeka Daudu and his technical crew.
Japan heads to the FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship looking to continue her fine run, which has also delivered a quarter-final appearance at each edition.
This time around, Japan will compete against Canada, Latvia and Nigeria in Group A as she looks to advance from the opening phase of the competition.
Japan roster for 2016 FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship: Izumi Abe, Mayuko Fujinaga, Itsuki Hashiguchi, Hotaru Kabashima, Rui Mima, Manaka Nasu, Monica Okoye, Ririka Okuyama, Tae Suda, Haruki Takahara, Layla Takehara, Mai Yamamoto.