Joe Apu
Nigeria Coach, Alex Nwora has called up an 18-man provisional squad in the run up to the FIBA World Cup African qualifiers billed for June 29- July 1.
In the provisional squad, Nwora recalled Nanterre Basketball of France player, Aminu Abdul Alade and Lawal Olaseni of Scandone AV of Italy to D’Tigers team.
It would be recalled that both players who last featured for the senior national team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil will do battle for the crunchy games against Mali, Rwanda and Uganda.
The duo will be joined by team captain, Diogu Ikechukwu (Sichun Blue Whales, China) Uzoh Benjamin (CB Caballero De Culican, Mexico), Mbamalu Bryant (CD Vildivia, Chile), Zanna Talib (Ironi Nes-Zion’s, Italy), Emenago Obinna Clinton (Rouen Basket, France) and Mike Efevberha (Beirut Club, Lebanon).
Meanwhile, 9 other new faces have been called up and are likely to make their national debut if selected in the final 12 -man team for the 3rd window of the qualifiers.
Listed are Omoerah Keith Sado (Baerum Basket, Norway), Braxton Ogbueze Jai (Charlotte University, USA), Nwora Jordan (University of Louisville, USA) Agada Caleb Apochi (Prat, Spain) and Okosun Augustine Obehioye (Sameji, Dominican Republic).
Others are London based Jesse Adekoya, Attah AbdulAziz (JeanD Brebeau, Canada), Mehinti Tosin Idowu (Lavrio, Greece) and Moses Kingsley (Antwerp Giants, Belgium).
To adequately prepare the team for the task ahead, D’ Tigers will play four international friendly games against Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon and Benin Republic.
The first two games will be against Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan on 23rd and 24th June, 2018 while on the 26th and 27th, they will face Gabon and Republic of Benin respectively.
The team will start its campaign against Uganda on the 29th at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.
Meanwhile, D’ Tigers coaching crew led by Alex Nwora is expected to arrive Nigeria on June 16. Dominic Okon and Ogoh Odaudu are also expected to arrive same day.