BREAKING: After Outcry, NBBF Makes Last minute Attempt for D’Tigers to Play AfroBasket Qualifiers

• The Nigeria senior male national basketball team, the D’Tigers, would be competing for honours at the 2025 Afrobasket qualifiers starting soon
• There have been concerns in the nation's basketball community, when it seemed that the team would not be participating in the 2025 Afrobasket qualifiers window-1, due to the paucity of funds that the ministry of sports is facing
• However, Legit.ng undertstands that the D’Tigers should arrive at the nick of time for the qualifiers and their match

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering sports and basketball.

FCT, Abuja - The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) is making last-minute attempts for D’Tigers to play in the Afrobasket qualifiers window.

Legit.ng reports that the contest is scheduled for this coming weekend.

Read also

“This is unfortunate”: Shehu Sani reacts as Nigeria’s basketball team withdraws from Afrobasket qualifiers

D'Tigers is the Nigerian men’s national basketball team.

Apart from emerging Afrobasket champions in 2015, D'Tigers have finished as runners-up on four different occasions while claiming the bronze three other times.

Recall that on Wednesday, February 21, it was announced that despite several 2020 Olympians committing, D’Tigers would forfeit the Afrobasket qualifiers window "due to lack of funds from government".

It is understood that the NBBF, led by Musa Kida, waded in immediately as many Nigerians were taken aback by the development.

According to a tweet late on Wednesday night, February 21, on the official page of the D'Tigers, the federation is aiming to finalise a roster and gather funds in time to play in the Afrobasket qualifiers.

Legit.ng reports that Egypt and Tunisia have been chosen as the hosts of the phase of the 2025 FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers slated for Friday, February 23 to Sunday, February 25.

Read also

NCC orders MTN, Airtel, Glo, others to block Binance amid allegation of FX manipulation

Tunisia will host the games for Groups B and E, while Egypt is set to stage Group D's games.

D’Tigers, who crashed out of the Paris Olympics and the World Cup, are paired in Group B alongside Cape Verde, Uganda and Libya.

Read more about basketball in Nigeria:

• How to join a basketball team in Nigeria
• History of basketball in Nigeria
• “Will you marry me?”: Elegant lady shows off her flawless basketball skills with enthusiasm

Tinubu hails D’Tigress

In a piece of related news, Legit.ng reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated the female national basketball team for winning their fourth consecutive Afrobasket championship.

In a tweet via his official X page, the president said the country was proud of their achievement.

Source: Legit.ng