NBBF invites 14 for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers
Nigeria have named a 14-player preliminary squad for this month’s Group B first leg games in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers in Bamako, Mali.
While the former African champions kept seven players from last year’s FIBA AfroBasket – where they claimed a second-place finish – they added Ben Uzoh and Michael Gbinije, two members of the continental championship winning team from 2015.
From February 23-25, Nigeria will take on hosts Mali, Uganda and Rwanda in an attempt to secure a place in the 12-team second round of the African Qualifiers.
Nigeria’s 14-player preliminary squad for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers
Jeleel Akindele
Azuoma Dike
Ike Diogu
Michael Efevberha
Michael Gbinije
Ikenna Iroegbu
Ikenna Bryant Mbamalu
Ike Nwamu
Christopher Obekpa
Adeolu Olaiya Ojo
Lucky Subel Okoh
Musa Usman
Ben Uzoh
Abdul Yahaya
Michael Efevberha, a prolific scorer who last represented Nigeria at FIBA AfroBasket 2009, is also part of the preliminary squad.
They will have the firepower of their top three scorers from last year’s AfroBasket in the form of Ike Diogu, Ikenna Iroegbu and Ikechukwu Nwamu.
Nigeria open their World Cup African Qualifiers against Uganda on February 23. A day later, they will go up against Rwanda before facing Mali on February 25.
At stake in the African Qualifiers are five tickets on offer for the continent’s countries to reach the first-ever 32-team FIBA Basketball World Cup taking place in China from August 30-September 15, 2019.
