Nigeria national Basketball team, D’Tigers coach, Alex Nwora is confident that the country will pick a slot for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China despite missing some of their key players for the qualifiers.
Nigeria have been drawn alongside hosts Mali, Uganda and Rwanda for the FIBA qualifiers which will take place from 23 February to 25 February, 2018.
Nwora admitted that the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) could not get some of the players for the qualifiers due to the new qualification format.
“It was tough to getting key players with leagues across the world already in full swing,” Nwora told the media department of the NBBF.
“Active players in their respective clubs who are available have been invited to represent Nigeria. We have a very formidable team that I believe will sail through during the qualifiers.”
Nwora recalled two players from the victorious 2015 AfroBasket Championship squad and five from the squad that won silver in Tunisia in 2017 to his preliminary squad for the qualifiers.
The 2019 FIBA World Cup will tip off on 31 August and end on 15 September in China.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
