NBBF lists 29 for Women Afrobasket camps
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has appointed Vincent James Samuel as the new Head coach of the Women Senior National team replacing Scott Nnaji in preparation of the 2017 FIBA Women Afrobasket Championship in Mali.
Disclosing this in a statement at the weekend, the federation also released a list of 29 players invited to the team’s training camp in Nigeria and United States of America ahead of the apex women’s championship in Africa.
According to the NBBF, Samuel, who won the first ever victory by an African nation in an Olympic women’s basketball contest at the 2004 Olympics over South Korea, has been tasked to deliver to Nigerians the first ever Women Afrobasket trophy.
The invited players are made up of 17 foreign-based and 12 home-based players, who were directed to report to camp yesterday.
According to the statement signed by the NBBF Scribe, Chimezie Asiegbu, the foreign-based players will converge on Orlando, Florida while the home-based alongside some of their foreign based counterparts such as Sarah Ogoke, Uju Ugoka and Adaora Elonu holidaying in Nigeria will converge on Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Orlando camp will be led by D’Tigress captain, Helen Ogunjimi alongside Ezinne Kalu, Promise Amukamara, Adaeze Alaeze, Ayoleka Sodade, Ndidi Madu, Cecilia Okoye, Aisha Mohammed, Patience Okpe, Sarah Imovbioh, Ugo Nwaigwe, Balogun Elizabeth, Joyce Ekworomadu and Evelyn Akhator.
In Lagos, the 11 players will sweat it out under the watchful eyes of Peter Ahmedu and Okworogu Ochuko who were also newly named as part of the new technical crew.
National team regulars, Chioma Udeaja (First Bank), Nkechi Akashili (First Bank), Upe Atosu (First Bank) will have a tough battle in their hands with Akaraiwe Nkem (First Bank), Elawure Tina Odion - First Bank, Ukato Igere Magdalene - First Bank, Nwamaka Deborah Chidinma - First Bank, Ulabo Queen Roseline - Dolphins, Olaosebikan Tokunbo Dolphins, Ume Nwamaka Gloria - Plateau Rocks, Okonkwo Grace - IGP Queens and Isaac Christiana - IGP Queens all battle ready to book a ticket on the team to the tournament starting on the 18th of August in Bamako.