Nigeria push to rebuild D’Tigers into Olympic contender don gather pace, as head coach David Fizdale come out say 14 NBA players wey get Nigerian connection don express interest say dem wan represent di country. Fizdale say e don speak with di players one-on-one, and dem no dey eligible to play for Nigeria now. Two of dem, e add, don already commit to di project, but e go depend if dem fit settle dia international eligibility.
Di recruitment drive na di main thing for Fizdale plan, wit qualification for di 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup and di 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at stake. Nigeria recent World Cup qualifying squad don already get NBA experience for Josh Okogie, Chimezie Metu and Udoka Azubuike, among oda established internationals.
Di Los Angeles Games get personal meaning for Fizdale, wey grow for di city and dey remember di 1984 Olympics. E don make am clear say im ambition na to carry Nigeria go di tournament and to compete, no be just to show face.
"We don make am our mission say we must qualify for Los Angeles. Dat na my ultimate goal, to carry dis team go those Olympics. And no be just to show. I wan win," Fizdale tok. D’Tigers don already feature for London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics but dem never win any Olympic basketball medal before. According to FIBA, seven teams go qualify directly for di 2028 Olympic basketball tournament through di 2027 World Cup.
