Voigt confirmed as Nigeria coach for AfroBasket 2015
ABUJA (AfroBasket 2015) - Will Voigt has been confirmed as the head coach of Nigeria for the upcoming AfroBasket 2015, the country's Basketball Federation (NBBF) announced on Thursday.
ABUJA (AfroBasket 2015) - Will Voigt has been confirmed as the head coach of Nigeria for the upcoming AfroBasket 2015, the country's Basketball Federation (NBBF) announced on Thursday.
The American replaces Ayodele Bakare, who guided Nigeria at AfroBasket 2013.
A number of coaches, including Ahmed Sani who served as Nigeria interim coach during the AfroBasket qualifiers, applied for the job, but the NBBF opted for Voigt.
Both Ayinla Johnson and Abdulrahaman Mohammed will serve as assistant coaches to Voigt.
D'Tigers will reconvene in a few weeks in Abuja to start their training camp.
— Nigeria Basketball (@NigeriaBasket) June 29, 2015
Voigt, who coached the NBA D-League Bakersfield Jam from 2009 to 2014, is expected to open his AfroBasket training camp in Abuja, Nigeria, on 15 July.
Voigt and NBBF have agreed on a three-month contract, running until September.
The tournament will take place in the Tunisian cities of Tunis and Nabeul.
“If he [Voigt] succeeds, he will be the coach to lead the team to the Olympics,” the NBBF said.
According to the NBBF, both local and foreign-based players are expected to take part in the preparations.
The new coach is known to Nigerians as he has previously coached two Nigerian internationals - Alade Aminu and Ike Diogu - in the NBA D-League, and has also volunteered in Summer Basketball Camps organised by Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri in Zaria and Lagos between 2004 and 2008.
Nigeria will need to win the African Championship in order to secure direct qualification for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Should Nigeria finish second or third, they will have a second chance for the Olympics by playing in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Nigeria, one of the top teams in the African continent, have been drawn in Group A along with hosts Tunisia, AfroBasket debutant Uganda and Central African Republic (CAF).
Nigeria will open their AfroBasket campaign on 19 August against the Central African Republic in Tunis.
FIBA