Ahead of the Women’s AfroBasket scheduled to hold in Rwanda, Vice President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Babs Ogunade, says Nigeria’s best players will be selected for the tournament regardless of where they are based.
The 26th edition of the 12-nation competition takes place at the BK Arena, Kigali from July 28 to August 6.
D’Tigress will hope to defend the title they won two years ago in Cameroon courtesy of a 70-59 victory against Mali in Yaounde.
Nigeria, who are seeking to win the championship for the fourth consecutive time, has automatically qualified as defending champions.
Ogunade said opportunities would be given to the home-based players who are good enough to make the team.
“We are working hard on putting together a team that will represent the country in Rwanda,” he said.
“For such assignments, we look for the very best players that are available regardless of where they are. If the best players are abroad we bring them in and if they are here, that is fine. The Nigerian women’s league is on and we will look for players who are good enough to represent Nigeria.”
The biennial women’s AfroBasket will serve as qualifiers for the FIBA Women’s World Cup African Qualifiers and the Pre-Olympic Olympic Qualifiers.
The last three editions of the tournament were held in Cameroon (2021), Senegal (2019), and Mali (2017), and it’s the first time the East African country will be hosting the women’s AfroBasket.
Teams qualified for the event so far include reigning champions Nigeria, hosts Rwanda, Mali, Cameroon, Senegal, Mozambique, DR Congo and Egypt.
The remaining spots for the biennial Women’s AfroBasket will be completed over the next few months through regional qualifiers.
According to FIBA Africa’s Competitions Department, the next regional qualifier will take place from June 30 to July 2 in Ivory Coast.
