The world basketball governing body, FIBA, has finally withdrawn Nigeria from the women’s basketball World Cup scheduled to be held in September in Sydney, Australia.
This is coming weeks after the Federal Government’s decision to withdraw Nigerian basketball from all international competitions and activities for two years.
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Subsequently, Mali who are the next ranked team in Group B of the FIBA women’s basketball World Cup qualifiers have been invited to replace Nigeria.
This will no doubt be disappointing news for the female national team, D’Tigress, who had pleaded with the government to rescind its decision.
“Our goal is to play and represent Nigeria proudly! We, as the Nigerian Women’s National Team plea for the reversal of the International Basketball ban for Nigeria. We hope to be heard! Thank you,” the statement from the Women’s nation team read.
However, the government remained adamant leading to yesterday’s decision by FIBA to throw out the girls from the 2022 World Cup.
FIBA will announce whether there would be any other decisions relating to Nigeria’s participation in other competitions and any potential disciplinary measures in due course.
Meanwhile, immediately after the news of D’Tigress withdrawal, angry and disappointed Nigerians took to twitter to call for the sack of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare.
Alhaji Star @SodiqStar01 said “In a sane country, Sunday Dare shouldn’t be a Minister of Sports. He has failed in every sport! Those ladies played their hearts out just to qualify. You have owed them, now you’re depriving them of reaping what they sowed.”
Ebube @chiiebubechii said “Giving your all to qualify for a tournament, only to get disqualified due to Sunday Dare, inconsiderate NBBF leaders and Buhari. Those ladies deserve better”
For Owoblow86 @Owoblow861, Sunday Dare has got to be the worst Sports Minister in Nigeria’s history. Imagine beating Solomon Dalung to crass incompetence? Smh.
Mayowa olagunju @iam_doctormayor said “Plz what is the job of Sunday Dare again? I think he is trying to destroy what we have left in sports.
Ïn a related development, the male national team, D’Tigers have blamed the administrators Nigeria’s recent woes in basketball.
According to a statement on the verified twitter handle of the team, @NigeriaBasket, the team clamoured for change.
“Nigeria is the best basketball country in Africa. This didn’t happen because of our leaders. It happened because of the players and staff who put their blood, sweat, & tears into their work. Nigeria’s biggest threat from progress is Nigeria. We need change.
“We are saddened by the forced withdrawal of D’Tigress from the World Cup. We hope someday Nigeria will be led by a government without corruption & greed.
“The future of Nigeria basketball is extremely bright and we are being held back by our leaders,” the tweet said.
However, despite the hullabaloo, the Sports ministry is set to inaugurate the controversial basketball interim management saddled with the mandate to manage the affairs of the federation for the period of the withdrawal.
The statement by the Ministry’s Director of Press, Mohammed Manga, said arrangements have been concluded for the inauguration of the committee on Saturday, June 4 at the Indoor sports Hall, Package B of MKO Abiola national stadium Abuja.
By Jide Olusola and Esosa Osa
