Former D’Tigers coach Scott Nnaji has criticised the current state of Nigerian basketball, saying the quality of the game has dropped sharply and needs urgent improvement.
Nnaji called for stronger grassroots development, with attention to coaching and players’ understanding of what to do on court, rather than focusing only on bouncing, passing and dunking. He said the technical quality of players in the Zenith league remains poor and that young coaches must also be developed.
Former Nigeria international Lekan Ajayi blamed the sport’s decline on poor administration, the absence of a functional domestic league and insufficient investment at grassroots level. He said competent administrators who understand basketball were needed to restore the country’s fortunes.
Ajayi said: “Basketball in Nigeria, to be honest, is declining. Between God and man, Nigerian basketball is almost dead. We have people who are hungry for power but do not know what they are doing.”
