Nigeria call up 16 players for AfroBasket Women 2015 Zone III Qualifiers

ABUJA (AfroBasket Women 2015) - The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has named a 16-player squad ahead of the country's AfroBasket Women 2015 qualifying tournament taking place from 4-5 June in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

The qualifiers against Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso - who have not yet confirmed their participation - will also serve as qualification for the 11th All Africa Games.

Nigeria are already assured of their place at the event in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo (4-19 September) thanks to their third-place finish at the 2011 edition.

If Burkina Faso decides not to play in the three-team competition, the qualifier will become a two-game series between Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria.

Nigeria's focus will be on booking a place at AfroBasket Women 2015 which will be held in Yaounde, Cameroon from 24 September-3 October.

To that end, the Nigeria federation has invited domestic league and foreign-based players to take part in a camp in Abuja, with head coach Scott Nnaji and his assistant Adewumi Aderemi looking on.

"The players are in high spirits ahead of the all-important qualifiers and will do everything possible to seal their place and be part of Group B," Aderemi said to FIBA.com.

Should they punch their ticket for AfroBasket Women 2015, Nigeria will play in Group B, alongside reigning continental champions Angola, Senegal, Algeria as well as the yet-to-be determined Qualifier from Zone II and a team that will receive a wild card.

"We are aware of the draw made on 9 May in Cameroon and we are doing everything possible to secure qualification for the biggest women's championship on the continent," Aderemi added.
If Nigeria fails to qualify, Aderemi believes that "Africa will lose the opportunity to follow one of the best women's basketball playing nation at the biennial competition.

"It will also be painful for Nigeria who are chasing their third continental title and looking to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics."

Nigeria last won the continental title in 2005 on home soil, in Abuja. It came two years after they made history in winning their first-ever AfroBasket Women crown in Mozambique.

Nigeria preliminary squad for AfroBasket Women 2015 qualifying tournament in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (4-6 June): Nkem Akarawe, Nkechi Akashili, Upe Atosu, Juliet Chinyere, Juliet Currency, Adaora Elonu, Sarah Imovbioh, Regina Iornumbe, Ndidi Madu, Amaka Nwakamma, Chidimma Nwakamma, Sarah Ogoke, Helen Ogunjimi, Grace Okonkwo, Chioma Udeaja, Uju Ugoka.

FIBA