Al-Farouq Aminu set to suit up for Nigeria in September

PRETORIA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - Three years on and Al-Farouq Aminu is set to return for the Nigerian national team in September in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers.

The Portland Trail Blazers forward last featured for the current No 1 team in Africa when they lifted the continental trophy for the very first time in August of 2015 in Tunisia.

Since then, his NBA commitments have prevented the 27-year-old from wearing the D'Tigers jersey.

"IT'S BEEN BEAUTIFUL WHAT THE GAME HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR ME. PLAYING FOR YOUR NATIONAL TEAM, THERE'S NOTHING THAT COMPARES TO IT. IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY, MAKING YOUR COUNTRYMEN PROUD."- Aminu

As Nigeria prepare to host the first-leg of Group F of the African Qualifiers from September 14-16 in Lagos, Aminu - who is currently taking part in the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa camp and will feature in Saturday's NBA Africa Game in Pretoria, South Africa - told FIBA.basketball how excited he is to be back for a team that gave him some of the best experiences of his career.

"[Yes], most likely, that’s my plan. If everything goes as I foresee, I will be there. It’s an opportunity I can’t really pass on," Aminu said.

"What I have been trying to do in Nigeria is to grow the game, that's what I have been doing with my foundation, helping the grassroots, and it's been a beautiful experience. I have seen the game getting better and better. There is a couple of guys here in the BWB."

Born in Atlanta to a Nigerian father and an American mother, Aminu has kept close ties to the most populous country on the continent of Africa.

"[Being in Nigeria] It’s going home, it’s amazing. I get my Fufu, my Eba [all Nigerian traditional dishes], I get to see my grandma - she just passed away -, but I got to see her when I  was doing my camp, I get to see my aunt, my cousins, all my friends. It's a beautiful experience. It’s one of the highlights of my summer," he revealed. 

Nigeria will play Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and the Central African Republic in Lagos in an attempt to retain their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers unbeaten run (6-0).

And, Aminu who has been key to the Nigerian national team in recent years, says he can't wait to play in front of a home crowd. 

But can they get the better of their opponents, who are equally chasing one of the five tickets available for African teams for the  FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China?

“It’s never been easy," Aminu admitted. "The first FIBA AfroBasket [2013] we went to, Senegal was actually the one that put us out. That was a tough a game."

Two years later, Aminu played a major role in helping Nigeria beat then-defending champions Angola in the Final, and as a result, they secured a spot at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Aminu insists it's been a huge experience to get to wear the Nigerian uniform. 

"We have been able to be two-time Olympians. We never went to the Olympics before I got on the team, we never won the FIBA AfroBasket before I got on the team. It’s been a beautiful experience, good group of guys Ike [Diogu], my brother [Alade Aminu], Chamberlain [Oguchi], I can name more…. It’s been beautiful to see the progression of the game getting better and better."

Asked about the importance of the World Cup Qualifiers to Nigerian basketball, Aminu replied: "I felt like the first time we went to the Olympics [2012], it put the game of basketball on the map. There were two African teams, that has never been done before as well, and we won the game [against Tunisia]. We are just continuing to knock down milestones, and that’s what the continent needs."

In the build-up to his ninth NBA season, Aminu reflected on his journey to stardom. 

"I just wanted people - a couple of kids in the neighborhood - to think that I was okay at playing basketball. When I was a young kid I just wanted my big brother to think that I was good. It’s been beautiful what the game has been able to do for me. Playing for your national team, there is nothing that compares to it. It’s beautiful to represent your country, making your countrymen proud."

And Nigerian fans surely will welcome Aminu in Lagos in September.  

FIBA