NGR – Nigeria’s Efevberha keeps fingers crossed on wild card

LUGANO (2010 FIBA World Championship) - A hot topic of conversation among basketball fans and players is which teams merit consideration for the 2010 FIBA World Championship wild cards.

Hoops enthusiasts in Africa are crossing their fingers that one of their national sides will receive a wild card.

One of the teams in the running is Nigeria.

Second in the FIBA Rankings among the African teams after No. 12 Angola, 22nd ranked Nigeria won seven of their nine games at the Afrobasket this summer in Libya but one of the defeats was very costly, a loss to Cameroon in the Quarter-Finals.

The 84-80 setback ended Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s big event in Turkey.

The only chance for Nigeria to play in the big event now is to receive a wild card.

The national team captain, Mike Efevberha, says a Nigeria side would add a lot to the 24-team field at the FIBA World Championship.

“It is important to remember that Nigeria has provided many talented players throughout the world, and many others may come if we get a wild card,” Efevberha said to FIBA.com.

FIBA will be handing out four wild cards next month in Istanbul, Turkey.

When considering Nigeria, they do have a rich tradition in the sport.

Between 1995 and 2005, Nigeria claimed either bronze or silver in the FIBA African Championships.

They have come in fifth at the last two Afrobaskets, however.

No one will ever forget Nigeria’s performance at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan under former coach Sam Vincent, which started with an 82-75 upset of Serbia and Montenegro and ended in the Eight-Finals against Germany.

The Germans needed a superlative effort from their superhero, Dirk Nowitzki, to beat Nigeria 78-77. Nowitzki had 23 points in that victory.

The United States-born, Sacramento Kings small forward Ime Udoka led the Nigerians with an average of 14 points per game in Japan.

“I do hope we get a wild card,” said Efevberha, who plays professionally in Switzerland with the Lugano Tigers.

“We had pretty good results in the past.

“We did not play as well as we should have in Libya 2009, but we worked hard.”

Efevberha says if he and his teammates take up a place in Turkey, they are capable of playing at a very high level.

“We may have chances to succeed against better ranked teams as long as we put everything together, and get focused,” the 25-year-old said.

“I do not know what the problems were in the past, but we have talent.”

A different experience

Efevberha, who played collegiately at California State University, says it was interesting to compete at the Afrobasket in Libya.

The style of play, he says, was different to that found in the United States and in Europe.

“I found the African game very physical,” he said.

“In the last African Championship, I noticed everyone jumped around the rim. Guys are very athletic.”

Athleticism isn't the only ingredient needed for success.

Ten-time African champions Angola have athleticism, yet they are also much shorter than Nigeria.

The Angolans have a lot of experience and are also well organized.

“Everybody knows what their roles are within the Angola team,” Efevberha said.

Looking at Nigeria’s stars

Nigeria provided one of the finest centers ever to play the game in Hakeem Olajuwon.

Nicknamed “The Dream”, Olajuwon had a glittering career in college with the Houston Cougars and professionally with the Houston Rockets.

He eventually represented the United States at the 1996 Olympic Games, claiming the gold medal.

Efevberha isn’t a center, but rather a 6ft 5in guard who was born in Pomona, California, and obtained citizenship thanks to his father.

“I think Nigeria has many talented players,” he said. “There can never be another Olajuwon, but there is an Efevberha.”

Efevberha made his debut for the Nigeria national team last summer and was made captain by coach John Lucas, former NBA guard who also coached in the league.

He averaged 17 points per game and had 24 in the defeat to Cameroon.

There are other American-born Nigerians who have represented the country in the past who could bolster the squad.

“With the World Championship coming around, if we get a wild card, I am sure more Nigerians playing in the US and in Europe will be joining the team,” he said.

“Everyone will be interested to come because it is an event that everyone will be watching. I, personally, welcome them.”

Julio Chitunda
FIBA