Players and officials of the Nigeria’s men Basketball team, D’Tigers are expected to travel to Cote d’Ivoire on Friday,July 22 to compete in two competitive friendlies against Ivory Coast national basketball team.
NationSport reports that 12 players and six officials will make the trip and they will return to the country on Tuesday, June 26.
The trip is part of the activities lined up for the team to get in shape for the Phase two of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, taking place at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos between the June 29th and July 1st.
D’Tigers are eyeing one of the African tickets to participate in the World Cup proper in China next year.
The first leg of the qualifiers was held in Bamako, Mali, where D’Tigers became the third team to boast a 100 percent winning record in Africa. A particular highlight of this was a blowout of host nation, Mali by 82-59.
Emerging as runaway leaders of group B, there are many reasons to be optimistic as they returned home to protect home soil.
Returners like Ben Uzoh, a former NBA player, who currently hold an NBA record with the Toronto Raptors as the first rookie with a triple double, and Team captain Ike Diogu, who currently plays for Sichun Blue Wales in China as well as Zanna Talib from Italy, will be expected to maintain high level performances that proved instrumental for the team in Mali.
The team has been intensifying preparation at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos under the tutelage of Alex Nwora and his assistant, Ogoh Odaudu.
And following a strong performance in Mali, D’Tigers are looking to book a place in the China 2019 edition.