D’Tigers may have beaten Tunisia 84-81 in their first match in Angola on Thursday as they make a real push for the 2027 FIBA World Cup ticket, but the good run could be truncated any moment from now as they face ejection from their hotel and the World Cup qualifiers.
According to areliable FIBA source, the D’Tigers are campaigning in Angola on credit as Nigerian officials were yet to pay the bills that give them the participation right.
“Your team is looking good, but I don’t know if their participation will be disrupted by their situation here. Nigeria has not paid for anything here, even though we understand your government officials could be in Luanda on Friday. I hope they are not ejected from their residence or even stopped from the competition,” a FIBA official said on Friday.
The National Sports Commission funds the country’s matches for the World Cups and the Olympics. The Tigers are playing in Luanda for a spot in the 2027 World Cup, billed for Qatar.
According to Extrasportnigeria.com, the National Sports Commission is yet to pay the team’s participation fee and their hotel accommodation. It was also gathered that the players’ tickets were yet to be fully paid for.
Efforts to get confirmation from the Nigeria Basketball Federation’s secretary proved abortive and attempt to speak with the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, also failed as he did not pick up his telephone call. He did not also respond to messages sent to his phone number on the matter.
D’Tigers need to win their three matches to enable them stand a chance of qualifying for Qatar after winning just one game out of three in the first Window. A similar issue of funding forced the team to get to the last competition just before the first jump ball was taken.
