The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has charged Nigeria’s Senior Men’s Basketball Team, D’Tigers, to deliver a strong and determined performance as they head into the final window of the Afrobasket Qualifiers in Libya.
With support from the NSC, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) successfully facilitated the team’s arrival in Tripoli, ensuring they are well-prepared for the crucial fixtures.
Speaking ahead of the qualifiers, Hon. Olopade expressed confidence in the squad’s strength and balance:“I am sure the NBBF and the coaching crew have selected a very strong and technically balanced squad for the country, blending both foreign-based and home-based players.
Basketball is one of our traditional sports as a country, and we have had tremendous success over the years. It is, therefore, essential to continue giving it the attention it deserves from the Commission.”
He further emphasized the NSC’s broader commitment to the development of all sports, highlighting the leadership role of Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko in ensuring Nigerian sports thrive at all levels:
“At the Commission, I want to reiterate that the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and I are fully committed to the growth of all sports, and we will continue to exemplify this through proper preparations for all our national teams at international competitions.”
Hon. Olopade pointed out the Commission’s dedication to every sporting discipline, citing recent successes in cricket and badminton:
“There has been a paradigm shift since the rebirth of the Sports Commission, with detailed attention given to every sport. We demonstrated this with cricket when our U-19 girls played at the World Cup in Malaysia earlier this year and, more recently, with badminton at the All Africa Championship in Cameroon, among others.”
He also called on Nigerians to support D’Tigers as they aim to secure qualification for the Afrobasket tournament:
“Our athletes need the backing of the entire nation. D’Tigers have always embodied the resilience and competitive spirit of Nigerian sports, and I am confident they will give their best in Tripoli.”
Nigeria’s final 12-man squad for the qualifiers will be led by two Olympians—Caleb Agada and team captain Ike Nwamu—as they battle for a spot in the prestigious Afrobasket competition.
, Hon. Bukola Olopade, has charged Nigeria’s Senior Men’s Basketball Team, D’Tigers){kind=link}