Nigeria name squad for AfroBasket Women Zone III qualifiers

ABUJA (AfroBasket Women 2015) – The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has named the final squad that will confront Cote d’Ivoire in two-leg Zone-3 qualifiers taking place from 4 - 5 June in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

The 12-strong list unveiled by the coaching staff includes six players that featured with Nigeria at AfroBasket Women 2013 in Maputo, where the team came in sixth place.

They are: Helen Ogunjimi, Sarah Ogoke, Upe Atosu, Nkechi Akashili, Ndidi Awele Madu and Priscilla Chioma Udeaja.

Nigeria are looking to make it to a 10th AfroBasket Women while Cote d’Ivoire are trying to book their 12th appearance.

The AfroBasket Women will take place in Yaounde, Cameroon (24 September – 3 October).

For this competition that will serve as qualifiers for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Nigeria assistant coach Adewunmi Aderemi said to fiba.com that if his team fails to qualify, "Africa will lose the opportunity to follow one of the best women's basketball playing nations at the biennial competition."

However, Aderemi is confident the team will make.

He said: "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."

If they qualify, Nigeria will compete alongside reigning champions Angola, as well as Senegal, Algeria and two other teams - the one to qualify from Zone II and a team that will is to be awarded a wild card.

The Nigerians, whose head coach is Scott Nnaji, are expected to depart for Abidjan on 2 June ahead of their first game on 4 June at the Palais des Sports Treichville.

Nigeria squad for AfroBasket Women 2015 qualifying tournament in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (4 - 5 June): Nkem Akarawe, Nkechi Akashili, Upe Atosu, Juliet Chinyere, Adaora Elonu, Ndidi Madu, Jennifer Ndidiamaka Nwakamma, Chidimma Nwakamma, Sarah Ogoke, Helen Ogunjimi, Chioma Udeaja, Uju Ugoka.

FIBA