Nigeria: Trip planner to London

SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - The most anticipated moment for Nigerian basketball has arrived as the national team has finally picked their best players to play at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in early July in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.

Nigeria is among 12 teams battling for the remaining three places available for the London Olympics. They will come up against hosts Venezuela and Lithuania in Group D of the Preliminary Round of the OQT.

Nigeria is often regarded as one of Africa's most talented national teams, but unable to win major international titles (apart from last year’s All Africa Games).

However, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) says this time they will thrive by making it to London.

Head coach Ayodele Bakare picked some quality into the national side, after an effective planning started last November, which the NBBF says has attracted the 21 players chosen to the preliminary squad.

Nigeria’s trip planner to London is underway since early June, and it included training camps in China, Houston and Brazil.

Their players come from leagues as far as USA, Mexico, Israel, China, Belgium, France, Spain, Germany, Iran and three are home-based.

Right now, things are looking good for Nigeria.

After five preparation games against Chinese clubs (Foshan Longlions [2 games], Fujian Quanzhou Bank, Shanxi Zhongyu, Zhejiang Guangsha Lions), D’Tigers, as they are known, remain unbeaten.

Next week, they will face the 2012 Olympic hosts Great Britain, in Houston, Texas.

Then Nigeria will play a four-nation invitational tournament along Greece, New Zealand and hosts Brazil, before they travel to Caracas for their biggest test in recent years.

The team

Since the publication of the preliminary squad, expectations have been high among Nigerians as they made changes in the team’s roster.

From last year’s Afrobasket, only Olumide Oyedeji, Ejike Ugboaja, Ike Ofoegbu, Ezenwa Ukeagu, Stanley Gumut and Derrick Obasohan are in the preliminary squad.
 
They selected some high-profile names including NBA New Orleans Hornets Al-Farouq Aminu, Toronto Raptors’ Solomon Alabi and Ike Diogu, who last played for the San Antonio Spurs earlier this year before signing for Chinese side Xinjiang Flying Tigers.

It is intriguing seeing this Nigeria team at their best. What could possibly go wrong?

The future will tell, although ambition has been Nigeria national team’s trademark in recent years, when they signed reputable head coaches such as Sam Vincent (2010) and John Lucas II (2009).  

Nonetheless, the NBBF does not contemplate failure. 

“We can assure you that the team we have in place and the programme we are putting together for the team will ensure that we perform well in Venezuela and gain qualification for the Olympics,” NBBF chairman Umar Tijjani said.

He went on: “They are among the top players in the world now and we now have probably the best Nigerian side ever."

In addition to a strong group, the NBBF hired veteran American coach Tim Shea to join the coaching staff.

A matter of choice and opponents 

Nigeria is one of the few African national teams that enjoy a vast selection option.

Earlier this year, I asked coach Bakare about the chances for a US-based Nigerian player of fitting in his plans, and he replied that he was aware of his progress, but could not force him to play for Nigeria, as he simply stopped returning phone calls.

Ejike Ugboaja, who has been a regular since the 2007 Afrobasket, backs Bakare’s position and explains why he thinks Nigeria will make it to London.

“There were times the team would want a particular player but the player would simply say no," he said.

“You can’t force anyone to play for Nigeria. It’s a matter of choice.

“Playing at the Olympics has been the dream of many and this is the time to realise the dream.

“There’s no point having any fear that we won’t qualify for the Olympics. We have the team and we have the determination to win.

“The home support may mean little for Venezuela when we play them on July 2.

“Angola had beaten us in Nigeria before, and we have beaten Madagascar in their backyard before, so there’s nothing like home advantage when the opposition is better.

“We’ll have to find our way to the top and be in London. It is a challenge that will be surmounted,” Ugboaja added.

These statements say it all about the team’s high moral.

Although Nigeria has never played Lithuania, their seven-footer Alabi may provide tips about his Toronto Raptors team-mate Linas Kleiza and vice-versa.

And Nigeria's insight into its opponents does not finish there, as Aminu may well be aware of Venezuelan star Greivis Vasquez’s strong points. They are just teammates at Hornets.

The US-born Al-Farouq Aminu, whose name translates into a Nigerian dialect as “The chief has arrived”, is one of the biggest attractions of Nigeria's national team.

After being selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2010 NBA Draft with the 8th overall pick, he was traded last season to the New Orleans Hornets.

He had his best moments in the last 18 games of this season, as he averaged 8.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 31 minutes. He also started 21 of the 66 season games. 

Aminu shot 46 percent from the field, including 44 percent from beyond the arc.

Among his Hornets team he is known as the “The Chief.”

After the OQT

Should Nigeria fail with their best team at the OQT, inevitable questions will be asked.

For instance, when will the national team be successful? Will these players be available to join the national team at next year’s Afrobasket? Have mistakes been learned from the past?

Past experience is not too encoruaging. After a major tournament such as the 2006 FIBA World Championship, only three out 12 players (Chamberlain Oguchi, Tunji Awojobi and Aloysius Anagonye) then played at the following 2007 Afrobasket, in which Nigeria finished fifth, after being knocked out in the Quarter-Finals by minnows Cape Verde in a 62-53 defeat.

The islanders finished third in that tournament and went on to play the 2008 OQT in Greece.

However, this is not what coach Bakare anticipates.

“I can beat my chest and say confidently that Nigeria will rule the Africa scene from the next Afrobasket whether I’m in charge, I say this because of the goal laid down which will make easy for any coach to follow and improve on,” Bakare said.

“Our short term goal is to earn one of the three Olympic berths available at the OQT.

“On a medium term basis, we hope to win at least four games at the 2012 Olympic tournament while also improving on the FIBA ranking of Nigeria by at least three positions by the end of this summer,’’ The NBBF chairman Tijjani pointed out. 

One thing is certain, Nigeria national team will be under serious scrutiny, as they are expected to deliver success in Caracas. It is now or later for Nigeria.

Here is Nigeria's preliminary squad for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament: Olumide Oyedeji, Michael Eric, Solomon Alabi, Akinlolu Akingbala, Ikechukwu Diogu, Ejike Ugboaja, Ikechukwu Ofoegbu, Ezenwa Ukeagu, Anagonye Aloysius, Koko Archibong, Al-Farouk Aminu, Melvin Ejim, Ekene Ibekwe, Adeola Dagunduro, Stanley Gumut, Derrick Obasohan, Richard Oruche, Tony Skinn, Usman Abubakar, Mike Ohiero and Noruwa Agho.

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

FIBA’s columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.