By Joe Apu
D’Tigers of Nigeria on Thursday arrived Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire for the FIBA Afrocan Zone 3 Qualifiers which begins today at the Palais des Sports de Treichville.
AfroCan, a competition designed for players in the domestic league and players who ply their trade in Africa will see Nigeria battle it out against host Benin, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea for the sole ticket for the Final Round of the championship in Angola in August.
Nigeria’s 12-man roster is made up mostly of players that represented the country at the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Angola back in February earlier this year.
The players selected by the team coaches include Adeayo Oduleye, Tolani Buhari and Abba Adamu Adam. Others are Johnson Anaiye, Okiki Micheal, Victor Ezeh, Micheal Daramola, Odufuwa Kanyinsola, Wisdom Anyoaha, Ibe Agu, Victor koko and Chinedu Chimbou.
According to fiba.basketball, the host nation Cote d’Ivoire will be looking to make a return to the Afrocan Final Round hoping to better their 10th place finish in 2019 but will have to be at their best against Benin, Nigeria and Guinea to secure a place.
Nigeria on the other hand finished 11th place at the inaugural edition of the Afrocan and have set a target of returning to the championship. According to the head Coach of the Nigeria team, Ogoh Odaudu, the team is in Abidjan for business.
As for Benin, they will be attempting to get the ticket to have a feel of the Final Round. The Cheetahs as the team is called had two weeks of hard preparations before the 12-man roster was named.
The players of Benin are battle ready with so much action still in them following the conclusion of the Benin league which saw seven of the players in action. Team coach is Assad John Kadi who incidentally is the man behind the success of Elan Coton Basketball Club, winners of the Benin League. He has six of his players in the squad and can bank on their chemistry for success.
At the 2019 Afrocan championship, Guinea finished 12th place and are eager to return in an effort to have a better performance and placement. The tiny nation has witnessed great improvement in basketball such that they desire make an impact in Abidjan.