Nigeria basketball community mourns passing of late Women's AfroBasket star Amaka Adibeli

LAGOS (Nigeria) - The Nigerian basketball community was recently thrown into mourning as the news of the death of former D'Tigress point guard, Amaka Adibeli filtered into town.

The late Adibeli, who made her mark on the African continent both at club and national team levels, was said to have battled an undisclosed ailment before passing away in a Lagos hospital. She was 37.

The ever smiling point guard and her former team, First Bank basketball ruled the Nigeria local scene like a colossal winning the Nigerian women league between 2002 to 2009 and two African Champions Cup for Women in 2003 (Mozambique) and 2009 (Republic of Benin).

Adibeli played a major role in Nigeria's first ever gold medal winning side at the 8th All Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria followed by one silver and one bronze medals at the same championship in 2007 (Algeria) and 2011 (Mozambique).

Her long term coach, Adewunmi Aderemi described her passage a rude shock to him.

Coach Aderemi describe the late former point guard as a committed and discipline player will surely be missed.

"This is the time that younger players are supposed to learn from her life style as a player, her commitment to practice and her comportment on and off the court, Coach Aderemi concluded.

The late Adibeli also represented Lagos State women basketball team to several National Sports festival with medals to show for it.

President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engr. Musa Kida told FIBA.basketball that the late Adibeli will be sorely missed by the Nigeria basketball community.

"The late Nigeria international point guard passage will forever remain in our heat because we have lost." 

FIBA