The Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, in a press statement, noted that the Nigeria senior male basketball team, D’Tigers, would not be participating in the FIBA Afrobasket Qualifiers which is billed to commence in Tunisia on Friday.
Nigeria's basketball body attributed lack of preparation funds for the team’s withdrawal. According to D’Tigers on its X handle, “Despite several 2020 Olympians committing, D’Tigers forfeit this AfroBasket Qualifiers window due to lack of funds from the government.”
The Federation also iterated the struggles the sport has suffered in recent years. Recently, it noted how the president of NBBF, Musa Kida. solely sponsored the teams to tournaments of which he is yet to be refunded.
However, it was reported that in January President Bola Tinubu cleared all outstanding payments that FG owed the Super Eagles and other sporting teams of the country.
In affirmation, a statement was issued on X by Tinubu’s Media Centre, on Sunday, which reads “President @officialABAT has approved the payment of N12 billion outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s National teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others.
“The payment entails the clearing of the senior national team coach salaries running up to 15 months, payments of allowances and promises due to the senior national teams, females, and Under-20 national team."
As events unfold, the Federation has appealed to all lovers of basketball for understanding. “The board of NBBF appeals to the ever-growing fans and lovers of the game in Nigeria and the diaspora to understand the dire situation it found itself given the economic challenges faced by the country,”
