Izuchukwu Okosi
The Federal Government of Nigeria on Thursday morning announced the decision to rescind the ban placed on the country’s basketball teams from participating in international competitions in the aftermath of the internal crisis rocking the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) reports Prime Business Africa.
Two factions of the NBBF have been at doggerheads over which is legitimately the one duly elected to supervise the game following two elections held in Benin City and Abuja that produced parallel chairmen.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHowever officials of the Federation of International Basketball Federation (FIBA) had a meeting with the government Thursday morning as represented by Sports Minister, Sunday Dare to resolve the issue of Nigeria’s withdrawal from major competitions.
President Muhammadu Buhari through the Sports Ministry instituted a Committee to oversee the sport in the next two years.
Consequently the Federation of International Basketball Federation (FIBA) invited Mali as replacement for the D’Tigress who were billed to participate at the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Venezuela.
It is unlikely that Mali will be asked to step aside after their invitation to replace Nigeria but it is expected that FIBA will not sanction the Nigeria Basketball Federation after a truce was called.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
