Mali Replaces Nigeria at FIBA World Cup

2 June 2022
The New Times (Kigali)
By Damas Sikubwabo

Nigeria's female basketball team, D'Tigress, has been replaced with Mali for the upcoming FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 that will take place in Belgrade, Serbia.

This follows a development where the Federal Government of Nigeria, last month, announced the withdrawal of their national teams from all international basketball competitions for a period of two years.

Sunday Dare, the Nigerian Minister of Sports said at that time that the decision to withdraw the teams was due to crises that have characterised the country's basketball in the recent past.

"Following the unending crisis which have plagued and nearly crippled the development of basketball in Nigeria, President Buhari has approved the withdrawal of Nigeria from all international basketball competitions for a period of two years. This is with immediate effect," he said.

In a statement, FIBA recognised that it had been informed of Nigeria's decision and moved to replace the team with Mali.

"FIBA was informed about the decision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to withdraw the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) from all international basketball competitions and activities for a period of two years," a statement from FIBA said.

It added:

"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.

"Nigeria's withdrawal from the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 is confirmed. 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 international basketball governing body (FIBA) noted that it will announce whether there will be more decisions related to Nigeria's participation in other FIBA competitions and any potential disciplinary measures in this regard.

Read the original article on New Times.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2022 The New Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.