Nigeria: Bakare Quits National Team Job

7 August 2012

National basketball coach, Ayodele Bakare has decided to step aside as the head coach of the national male basketball team. He is however yet to table or discuss the issue officially with his employers, the Nigeria Basketball Federation.

Bakare broke the news yesterday at a post-match press conference at the Basketball Arena after D'Tigers ended their Olympics Games contest with only a win against fellow Africans Tunisia after playing four matches. D'Tigers lost to France yesterday 73-79 points. It was Nigeria's last group game and could not have qualified the team for the quarter final had it won because Lithuania joined USA and Argentina to progress from the group. When asked on the way forward especially ahead next year's African championship, he said: "I think I am stepping down from national teams assignment. My resolve to step down are for two reasons. First, I have been fortunate to be the first Nigerian coach to take this team to an African championship and second, I am also the first coach to take the men's team to an Olympics. I want to say that l have seen it all as a coach. Nigeria has won eight championships and l have been privileged to win seven out of the eight as a coach.

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