High aspirations for Rio-bound Nigeria

BAKERSFIELD (2016 Olympics) - It’s been nine months since Nigeria won its first-ever AfroBasket title in Rades, Tunisia, and American Will Voigt, the man at the helm of the new African champions, feels there is a lot more to come because they have high aspirations.

The Nigerians look to keep the momentum for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, but they will face stiffer competition. 

The Western Africans have been matched up against hosts Brazil, Argentina, Lithuania, Spain and a team that will qualify via one of the three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs).

Nigeria will open their second straight Olympic appearance facing Argentina in Group B, and if they play the way they hope to, it would be the beginning of what Voigt calls “a historic moment for Nigerian basketball.”

Will Voigt (USA) became the first coach to lead Nigeria to their first-ever African title

“We have very high aspirations as a team,” Voigt told FIBA.com. “If you are to ask any of our players going in to Tunisia, really our goal was to make history. We went there to win that tournament, that was our mindset. Even though it had never been done before, that’s how we looked at it. That’s our mindset going into the Olympics.

We want to be the first team, in the African history, to get out of the group stage. That’s our focus. I know that our guys will be disappointed if we don’t achieve that. - Voigt

Four years ago at the London Olympics, Argentina proved too strong for Nigeria in the Group Phase, winning 93-79 and advanced to the last four while the Africans returned home with a 1-4 record.

Dating back to 2012 Nigeria is 0-1 against the South Americans, but they are tied against Lithuania with one win apiece.

“We are opening against Argentina, that’s where our mindset is right now,"  Voigt noted.

"They are former champions. We can’t ignore that fact. This is a team that has won it all. They are going to be a formidable opponent. Obviously they have a lot of experience, they have been playing together for a long time and they had a lot of success. They present a number of different challenges,” he explained.

Now that they know what to expect from the 12-team event, Voigt insists they will put together what they feel are the best 12 players to represent the country and move forward with those guys.

“I don’t know if there is such a thing of an easy group in the Olympics,” he said.

“We are talking about the best teams in the world. But, certainly when you see the number two, number three, number four ranked teams in the world and the host nation - all in this group - it certainly presents a challenge.”

Nigeria, meanwhile ranks 25th in the FIBA World Rankings. But that position does prevent Voigt from aspiring big.

No matter what, it is going to be difficult. It’s an amazing achievement just getting to the Olympics, but to move on and get out of our group - and keep in mind that no Africa team in the history has done that -, it’s a huge challenge but this has been a group that has been up for challenges and up for making history. - Voigt

“We were able to win the first African championship in the history of Nigeria and did it without [Ike Diogu] our leading scorer from previous tournaments. This is a really resilient group. They always find a way to rise to these challenges, and I hope that this won’t be any different.”

The Olympics will tip off in four months time, but the tactician is already doing his home work.

Voigt and his team are already scouting potential players to strengthen the team, and although he is based in Bakersfield, California, he remains in regular contact with the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), all this, he says, to write a new chapter in the basketball history.

And aiming to higher goals is nothing new for Nigeria.

Over the course of the past four years Nigeria has used 23 different players in four major international competitions. And the countless Nigerians playing basketball across the world fuel Voigt's high aspirations of succeeding in Rio.

Among potential picks Nigeria are Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo and Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli.

Voigt went on: “I don’t think there will be lots of changes from what we have seen in the previous summer. Right now we are not hundred percent sure whether or not he [Oladipo] will be able to do it, but he certainly is a name that everyone is well aware of. Probably, pretty shortly we should be able to confirm whether or not he will be involved. I have spoken with Festus, and I think he actually is on board and committed. He is ready to be a part of it.”

Festus Ezeli (NGR), seen in the middle, has never his hope of playing for Nigeria 

Asked about the prospect of facing the host nation in the Group Phase, Voigt remained upbeat for the contest.

Nigeria fell short to AfroBasket 2015 hosts Tunisia in the Group Phase

He said: “I am excited for that game. We played Tunisia in Tunisia this past summer [at AfroBasket], and the environment in those type of games is electric. Of course you wish they all were cheering for you, but I just think having that kind of energy in the building always makes things exciting. I would expect the same when we play Brazil, I am sure the crowd will be tremendous, and I am sure it will be a memorable experience for everyone involved and I look forward to that.”

Voigt is expecting to open Nigeria’s Olympics training camp in July.

FIBA