Qualifiers
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, June 3, 2018 (NAN) The National Stadium in Lagos is being prepared to host the second window of the 2019 FIBA Men’s World Cup qualification games, a Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) official says.
Afolabi Oni, the Media Officer of the Musa Kida-led faction of NBBF, said in a statement that the federation was working on giving the stadium’s Indoor Sports Hall a new look.
“We are working on giving the Indoor Sports Hall a new look for the competition, and particularly ahead of the first game between Mali and Rwanda on June 29.
“The choice of bidding to host the Group B games by NBBF was in line with the promise of attracting international basketball championships to Nigeria before our election last year.
“When the opportunity presented itself, we never hesitated because it is part of our drive to develop basketball and make Nigeria a basketball hub in Africa.
“The desire to take basketball to the doorsteps of all strata of the basketball family influenced the choice of the venue for the first-ever World Cup Qualification Series to be hosted by Nigeria,” Oni quoted NBBF President Musa Kida as saying.
He went on to quote NBBF Vice-President Babatunde Ogunade as saying repair works would soon start at the venue, with other logistics already in place.
“We are in contacts with the hotels we will use and our sponsors are lined up.
“We have also enlisted the support of the Lagos State Government who over the years has been providing veritable support for basketball in Lagos and Nigeria.
“So, we are in a good place as we speak and we are ready to put up a good show,” Ogunade said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria is currently leading Group B after defeating Mali, Uganda and Rwanda during the first set of its group games.
The matches were played at Palais des Sports Salamatou Maiga in Bamako, Mali.(NAN)
BAY/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)