Final camping exercise for the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers will commence on November 23, 2020 according to Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
Secretary General of the federation, Afolabi-Oluwayemi Olabisi said this in Abuja while stating that players are expected to fly into Kigali.
The NBBF President, Engr Ahmadu Musa Kida speaking on the duration of the camping exercise, revealed that the federation would appreciate a longer final training camp for the qualifiers, but due to the underlying factors, camp will open four days before the teams’s first game.
“Longer camping period would have been the best option for the team. It would have enabled the boys to have enough time to blend under Coach Mike Brown.
“Some of the players are preparing for the new season with their clubs while some are actively involved in the Euro League, so we cannot snatch them away for long.”
The NBBF President also explained that the financial implication on the federation also discouraged any attempt to embark on an extended final camping exercise.
“We have to be honest with ourselves as a federation. Funding is a key determinant for most of our plans and programs. According to the popular saying, cut your coat according to your size, but for us at the federation, it is cutting our cost according to our cloth. Maybe in future, when our financial fortunes improve, we can camp players for as long as necessary”.
Players have been invited by the Technical crew after series of mini scouting by the technical crew with 12 expected to make the final list.
With adequate plans already put in place by the federation, it is expected that the team will have a smooth qualification
The team is grouped alongside host- Rwanda, Mali and Algeria who recently withdrew from the qualifiers taking place between 27th to 29th of November in Kigali
