TEAM PROFILE: Nigeria seek redemption with 2023 AfroCan opportunity
A wildcard from FIBA Africa for the Final Round of the 2023 AfroCan will provide Nigeria an opportunity to redeem its image and regain the clout its main team once had in Africa and beyond.
ABUJA (Nigeria) – A wildcard from FIBA Africa for the Final Round of the 2023 AfroCan in Angola will provide Nigeria an opportunity to redeem its image and regain the clout its main team once had in Africa and beyond.
At the inaugural edition of the AfroCan hosted by Mali, it was not a pleasant story for Nigeria as they finished in the last three places - alongside Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire - after losses to Kenya and DR Congo in the Group Stage and Algeria in the Round of 16.
Can Nigeria do better than the 0-3 record from four years ago?
Nigeria opened their AfroCan Qualifiers with a loss against Guinea, bounced back with a win against Benin, but lost to Cote d'Ivoire
Find below some facts about Nigeria.
Team: Nigeria
FIBA Ranking Men: 19th in the world; (1st in Africa)
Last participation at the AfroCan: 2019
Best result at the AfroCan: Eleventh-Place
How they qualified for the 2023 AfroCan: Nigeria were awarded a wildcard to the Final Round after finishing 1-2 in the regional Zone 2+3 Qualifiers in Abidjan.
Africa: Nigeria's main team still ranks at No.1 on the continent, but the AfroCan squad - consisting mostly of Africa-based players - is yet to prove they belong amongst the top nations on the continent.
Star player: Nigeria can rely on the leadership of Ibe Abuchi Agu who plays for Cote d'Ivoire reigning champions Abidjan Basket Club.
Abuchi Agu in action against Angola during the last window of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers held in Luanda
He has scored 36 points from 3 games scoring 13 points apiece against Guinea and Benin and 10 points against host Cote d'Ivoire during the AfroCan Zone 2+3 Qualifiers last week. He was on the floor for an accumulated 72 minutes.
The 26-year old guard will be looking forward to a strong1-3er performance in Angola.
He was one of the 34 players who featured for Nigeria throughout the 2023 FIBA Basketball African Qualifiers, a tournament he averaged 8.4 points in five games.
Rising stars: Aside from Agu, two other players – Victor Eze and Chinedu Martins Chimbou are not to be ignored.
Ogoh Odaudu
Head Coach: Ogoh Odaudu has been part of the success story of Nigeria’s senior team.
Odaudu has been the head coach of local club Rivers Hoopers since its establishment in 2009.
He coached the team to three Premier League titles. As such, the team qualified for the inaugural Basketball Africa League season in 2021.
Odaudu served as Nigeria assistant coach at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Odaudu was at the helm of Nigeria at the 2019 FIBA AfroCan 2019.
The former guard was captain of Dodan Warriors in his playing days and a member of the Nigerian senior team. He has represented the country at the 2001, 2003 editions of FIBA Africa Championship.
Outlook: Having been gifted a wildcard to the 2023 FIBA AfroCan, it is a tough call for Nigeria. Going by the team's performance in the Zone 2+3 Qualifiers where they fell short, they will have to go the extra mile to be counted among the title contenders.
Nigeria are drawn in Group B along hosts Angola and Mali. They face a herculean task of upsetting these two teams. Angola finished in third place while Mali were 5th back in 2019.
FIBA