Despite qualifying for the world cup billed to hold in Sydney, Australia, the Nigerian female basketball team, D’Tigress have been removed from the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
This is coming after the Federal Government asked all teams to withdraw from international competitions.
Global Basket Ball body, FIBA’s, took the decision after the deliberations with the Nigeria Basketball Federation to see how the decision could be reversed so the defending African champions to represent the continent.
FIBA said Nigeria’s withdrawal from the competition was following the failure of the NBBF to confirm Nigeria’s participation in the tournament.
FIBA’s statement reads in part, “In subsequent communications with the NBBF, and despite FIBA’s request, it has become clear that against the circumstances created by the government’s decision, the NBBF is unable to confirm its participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022.
“Given the multiple strict deadlines that cannot be postponed in order to ensure the successful staging of a major international event (visa procedures, schedules, ticket sales, accommodations, friendly games, preliminary rosters, flight tickets, accreditations, etc.) and to protect the integrity of the competition, the FIBA Executive Committee has decided as follows:
“Nigeria’s withdrawal from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 is confirmed”.
The statement further announced that “Mali, as the next ranked team from Group B of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, is invited to participate in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022”.
The body concluded by saying, “FIBA will announce whether there will be any other decisions related to the NBBF’s participation in other FIBA competitions and any potential disciplinary measures in due course.”
