Lack of Funds Will Derail Nigeria’s World Cup Qualification, NBBF Laments

Nigeria Basketball Federation vice President, Babs Ogunade has revealed that the federation is yet to get the funds which will enable D’Tigers to compete at the FIBA World Cup later this year.

D’Tigers are due set to camp in Abuja ahead of their make or mar final qualification window in Angola.

The team is on the verge of not qualifying for the FIBA World Cup this year and they have a final window of opportunity to grab a ticket to the world cup.

Meanwhile, Coach Ogoh Odaudu – of Rivers Hoopers – has been appointed to lead the charge to Angola, and he’ll be assisted by Israel Otobo of Kwara Falcons and Abdul Mohammed formerly of Gombe Bulls.

While speaking to brila.net, Babs Ogunade revealed that the NBBF is yet to get any funds, and though the Sports Ministry received approval for the requested funds, the Money has not been released for the team’s preparation.

“This is the last qualifying window we have, we applied to the ministry and from what we gathered, some money was approved, but approval of money with no cash is still no cash, and no cash means there is no money to prosecute the event, but we are hoping to get cash from the ministry because it will be unfortunate not to go for the world cup.”

“The money we gather will not take care of our NBA players, but there are players in Nigeria and Europe, and we have invited those players so we are waiting for the ministry to give us green light if the fund is available.

“We have already invited the players at home to qualify for the world cup, we can only cut our clothes according to the fabric available, not even to our size now because we have to make use of what is available, it affects everybody,” the NBBF vice President explained.