Sports
2017 Afrobasket: Coach Calls For Immediate Camping
The head coach of Senior Women National Basketball team, D’ Tigress, Scot Nnaji yesterday called for immediate camping of players to prepare for the forthcoming Afobasket Championship in Bamako, Mali.
Nnaji told newsmen in Lagos that over the years poor preparations had robbed the nation of glorious outing in competitions.
He added that the nation was heading to the same direction if proper preparation does not take place.
Tidesports source gathered that the 12-team competition has been scheduled to hold from Aug. 18 to Aug. 27 at the Palais des Sports Salamatou Maiga in Bamako.
The national women’s basketball teams, the D’ Tigresses, have been drawn against perennial rivals and defending champions, Senegal, Egypt, Guinea, and Mozambique in the forthcoming FIBA 2017 women’s Afrobasket.
D’ Tigress was bronze medallists in the 2015 edition and had defeated Senegal in the group stage but lost to Cameroon in the crucial semi final.
Nnaji, added: “As bronze medallist in the 2015 edition, we could not do better than that but poor preparations caused us not to get it properly, thereby losing in the semi finals.
“We are a powerhouse in women’s basketball in Africa with quality players scattered abroad, we should be dominating championships of this nature.
“But when our preparation is not well structured we may not really achieve what we so desire in the end.’’
According to Nnaji, the coming federation elections should not be allowed to affect preparation for the competition.
“Now we have to wait till the elections in June before a new board comes in and await their decision.
“This definitely will hinder preparations as the new board will first settle down before actuating themselves with their basic duties,’’ Nnaji said.
The competition will also serve as a qualifier for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018 holding in Spain.
The competition’s first phase will see a round-robin format, with every team taking on five opponents in their group.
The top four teams from each group will advance to the second phase which will be played in a knock-out format, starting with the quarter-finals.
The third-place and final matches will be played on the last day of the competition, August 27.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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