By Gbemile Oluwatosin
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has apologised to Nigeria and the teeming basketball fans in and outside the country for the failure of the country’s senior male national basketball team, the D’Tigers, to pick a qualifying slot for the final qualification phase for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
In a press release from the Media Team of the NBBF, the board acknowledges the pains and disappointment of Nigeria basketball fans and stakeholders over the non-qualification of the country’s senior male national basketball team, to the final phase of the qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The statement reads, “NBBF deems the reluctance of NBA clubs to release key players of D’Tigers for this tournament as regrettable and heavily detrimental to the D’Tiger’s drive for the Olympic Games qualification, as this has obviously denied the country the full compliment of its top players.
“In view of the fast growing love for basketball in Nigeria, and this failed attempt of D’Tigers to pick a ticket for next year’s Olympic Games, which is coming on the heels of the records-equalling feat of their female counterparts, D’Tigress, is a huge disappointment. The board of the NBBF apologises to all Nigerians.
“NBBF thanks the Federal Government for their support and encouragement to allow basketball grow in Nigeria and urge President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to approve and release all pending current financial requests before him for approval and other past liabilities that are pending, as these growing liabilities are inflicting excruciating pains on the Federation.
“Some of these long outstanding liabilities Includes the 2021 Afrobasket in Cameroun, where the D’Tigress emerged Champions, the Tokyo Olympic preparations and participation, and several others, and these liabilities are growing out of proportion and now, hampering the ability of the NBBF to continue to provide the best of it as seen in the last 6 years, with huge successes and ease.
“NBBF believes that with adequate preparations, and the full complement of its stars, the D’Tigers, would have done the country proud and performed better. It remains a fact that paucity or unavailability of funds militated against the desired results from the team.
“The NBBF hugely appreciate and thank the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for the grand hosting of the D’Tigress, at the State House, Abuja, last week, after winning the Afrobasket for a fourth consecutive time.
”The Engr Ahmadu Musa Kida-led NBBF, also thank the President and Commander-In Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in huge anticipation of his approval of all the federation’s financial requests before him, to enable the federation offset its debts,” it concluded.