By Joe Apu
The Nigeria senior male national basketball team, the D’Tigers, arrived have arrived Monastir, Tunisia, venue of the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers and would begin her campaign for a ticket against Libya in an adjusted fixture that will see the former African champions play the last game of the day.
The Nigerian team in a last minute push were granted clearance to travel after it seemed that lack of funds would stop the team’s trip for the qualifiers.
However, the Minister for Sports development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has given his consent for the NBBF leadership to do all that they can to see that the D’Tigers participate in the qualifiers, with an assurance that the necessary funds would be approved and the funds released within the next three weeks, to pay for the flight tickets of the team, allowances and other logistics for the qualifiers.
While appreciating and applauding the support of the Sports ministry and especially the Minister of sports development, in his usual manner of thoughtfulness and thoroughness in ensuring that the team makes the trip to the qualifiers, even if very late, the NBBF President Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida and his team rose to the challenge and ensured that all is done for the team to depart for Tunisia, at such short notice, and save Nigeria from huge embarrassment locally and internationally.
“Yes, even though this is coming late, it is heart-warming that our boys would eventually take part in the qualifiers for the 2025 Afrobasket championship,” Kida remarked.
“The board of the NBBF is deeply grateful to the Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, for coming good with his timely support and of course, saving the country from disgrace, and another FIBA ban,” he said.
Meanwhile, ahead of the games beginning Friday, the NBBF boss assured all Nigerian basketball fans, that despite the shoddy preparations, the Nigerian boys would put up their best to make the country proud again by picking a qualification ticket.