Again, D’Tigress threaten to boycott FIBA World Cup over unpaid allowances

The D’Tigress have again declared their intention to boycott FIBA World Cup qualifying series following the failure of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to pay allowances and bonuses owed them,

It will be recalled in October last year, the players accused Caretaker Chairman of the NBBF, Musa Ahmadu-Kida, of neglecting the team during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2021 Afrobasket – which they won.

The team also accused the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the NBBF of withholding their bonuses and allowances since the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Tenerife, Spain as well as the $100,000 donated to them just before the Olympics, totalling $197,118.

Shortly after that, the Ministry of Sports made attempts to resolve the dispute between the players and former board over bonuses and money donated by corporate organisations in Nigeria ahead of the 2020 Olympics Games in Tokyo, Japan, the players rejected the proposed part payment of debts owed them, insisting on receiving all their entitlements.

The African champions in a New Year message shared on the social media said the Sports ministry and the Nigeria Basketball Federation are yet to pay them as promised and has threatened not to be a part of the World Cup qualifiers in Serbia if the outstanding allowances and bonuses were not paid to players and officials in full.

“Since the conclusion of the hearing at the beginning of November, no line of communication or responses have been received by D’Tigress from the House, Sports Ministry nor Musa Kida concerning repayment of debts.

“More than 7 weeks have elapsed since the chairman’s decision for the former NBBF president, Musa Kida to settle the players and officials ‘ debt of D’Tigress, while the ministry completes the Olympic training grant balance, yet no engagement.

“We are sending a reminder to all involved including the Sports Ministry, the former NBBF president, Musa Kida, the House of Representatives and FIBA concerning these debts. Adaora Elonu our representative can be a bridge for communication, however, no official communication has been established through her either.

“With the FIBA World Cup qualifiers approaching in Serbia, we stand our ground and will not be scrambled into competition in last minute,” they declared.