Nigeria women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress has been thrown out of the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup over government interference.
Nigeria’s sports ministry headed by Sunday Dare, minister of sports and youth development, had withdrawn Nigeria’s Basketball teams from participating in all international basketball competitions for two years.
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D’Tigress qualified for this year’s FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup taking place in Sydney, Australia, after defeating France and Mali in the Group B of the World Cup qualifying tournament in Belgrade.
Mali, who Nigeria beat in the 2021 AfroBasket Women’s Championship final to clinch their fifth title, will now replace the D’Tigress as Africa’s representatives, being the second-ranked team in the group.
“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,” FIBA said in its official website.
FIBA also hinted further that Nigeria stands to face more sanctions over government interference in basketball affairs.
“FIBA will announce whether there will be any other decisions related to the NBBF’s participation in other FIBA competitions
and any potential disciplinary measures in due course.”
