FIBA 2021 Afrobasket qualification non-negotiable, says NBBF

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has affirmed that qualification for the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket Men’s tournament is non-negotiable.

Teams are getting set for the next window of the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers to be hosted in Rwanda and Egypt after the conclusion of the first window in February.

With gradual return of international basketball following the disruption of the global calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBBF has set its sight on a successful Afrobasket qualifiers campaign.

NBBF President, Musa Kida, on Tuesday said preparations have started in earnest to ensure that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics bound D’Tigers qualify for its 28th Afrobasket tournament.

“We are not unaware of the huge task before us to ensure another seamless qualification for Afrobasket. We know that millions of Nigerians are expecting us to qualify without drama and that is exactly what we are working towards.”

Currently ranked 26th globally and first in Africa, Nigeria is grouped alongside host Rwanda, Mali and Algeria in Group D.

Kida hammered on the need for early training camp and preparations to adequately get the team ready.

“There are no more minnows in African basketball. All the teams in our group deserve to be there and they deserve our respect. We need to prepare early and adequately to live up to pre-tournament ratings by pundits.

“We cannot afford to let our fans down. They are already looking beyond the qualification series between 27th-29th, November and 19th-21st, February, 2021.”

Nigeria will start her race for qualification when they meet Algeria on November 27 before taking on the host the next day.

D’Tigers will conclude their first round of qualification campaign against West African opposition, Mali on Sunday.

The top three teams in each group will qualify for the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket tournament billed for Kigali, Rwanda from August 24 to September 5.