Nigeria U18 Basketball Teams Begin Zonal Qualifiers

Nigeria U18 Basketball Teams Begin Zonal Qualifiers

Precious Oham

Nigeria Under-18 basketball teams begin battle at the Zonal Qualifiers tomorrow till Sunday August 4 in Abidjan, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

The Leader of Delegation and Vice Chairman of the Youth Committee on the Board of the NBBF, Ugo Udezue said from the Abidjan centre that the NBBF remains focused on their set developmental goals. 

“We are grateful to Ministry of Sports Development and the Nigerian government in general for making the platform available to these young ones.

“The determination to pursue quality youth programmes got us this far. Preparing the team and making the trip from Lagos to Abidjan may have been challenging but the federation is determined to stay focused on the goals of youth development. We must continue to develop the young ones for sustenance.

The U18 boys team in Abidjan has Bassey Ekpo Effiong, Abraham Boyce Hart, Sani Samuel, Azeez Suleiman Olaitan, Daubuna Ibrahimdau-Mutum, John Wilberforce and Precious Johha. Others are Duru Augustine Chinedu, Kpee Favour Komene, Jovan Ojako Chiebuka, Favour Ibe Ikedinachukwu and Ezekiel Isaac Oluwatemitope.

The ladies are Tewogbade Ayomide, Gbemisola Samuel, Khadijat Garba, Amarachi Umeh, Chiamaka Mgbon, Osaretin Samuel, Chiamaka Iwuji and Olanrewaju Ayodeji. The others are Pius Idubawo Beggi, Maryam Idris, Wandoo Hembam and Isaac Abigail.

The U18 boys are coached by Fubara Onyanabo while former national point guard Juliana Akhere is in charge of the young ladies.

The best teams from the zonal qualifiers in Abidjan will be in South Africa later in the year for the African finals.