Basketball fans unhappy with D’Tigers Olympic preparation

Some basketball fans in Lagos reacting to Nigeria’s poor showing at Stankovic Cup in China, say the Nigeria Basketball Federations (NBBF) is lackadaisical in the team’s preparations.

It was reported that Nigeria men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, Basketball Heads Game ended their campaign in the Stankovic Cup last Friday with a 73-82 loss to France.

The invitational championship was part of the preparation for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro bound team.

The team gained automatic qualification to the Olympics when they emerged Africa’s Champions in 2015.

It began the Stankovic Cup on a high note beating China 71-49.

They fell to the power play of Argentina in their second match at the tournament with a 49-71 loss.

The President, West Africa Zone 3 FIBA, retired Col. Sam Ahmedu, Freebet said that the preparations so far were inadequate for the team considering the level of the tournament.

“I am not satisfied with the way things are going; it is sad that we have the players that do well but unfortunately, the manner of preparation has been horrible.

“The group they belong to is quite a tough one; the NBBF should have begun the team’s preparations from last year which could have given the players the ability to withstand tough opponents.

“The team may not achieve but will at least do better than what they did at the London 2012 Olympics,’’ Ahmedu said.

Femi Adefeso, a sports analyst, said that the team were a ZEbet now have the highest odds bunch of great personality but unfortunately were going to meet tougher and high ranked opponents.

“The team has quality but the time for the preparation for them to be fully in form is too short.

“However, the team has the whole nation backing them to fly the national flag high at the Games,’’ Adefeso said.

D’Tigers currently ranked No. 3 in Africa and 25 in the world are expected to participate in other friendly lots of market options are available matches in the U.S. where they will play against the U.S Olympic team.

The team will begin its quest for an Olympic medal against Argentina on Aug. 7 in Group B, Best betting odds opening game that consist of Lithuania, Brazil and European giant, Spain.