My wife always wanted to live in Nigeria, says Redknapp

‘ Tokyo 2020 teams still open to eligible Nigerians’ Ministry of health to determine basketball league fixtures

THE Nigeria Basketball Federation ( NBBF) has revealed that the doors of the senior men and women national teams, which are billed to play at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, are still open to eligible Nigerians irrespective of where they are based.

NBBF Vice President, Babs Ogunade told The Guardian on Tuesday that the body was working closely with the teams’ coaches to raise formidable squads for the championship, adding that the body was striving to ensure the teams are among the best in the world.

One of the strategies adopted to strengthen the teams, according to Ogunade, is ensuring the teams get quality preparations ahead of the Olympics.

“Several camps will be opened in different venues for coaches to select the best Nigerian basketball players based with in and outside the country for the Olympics.

“I don’t understand why some people are complaining that we are not sticking with the players that qualified the teams for the Olympics to ensure continuity in the team.

“I will like to inform you that over 45 players were used at different championships to qualify Nigeria for the Olympics.

“Now, the NBFF is not holding back on inviting more skillful players to join the fold. The target is to ensure the coaches work hard to select the very best players of Nigerian descent based anywhere in the world to represent the country at the Olympics”.

AFTER months of speculations that he had been lined up to take over the Super Eagles job, Harry Redknapp yesterday laughed off such claims.

The former Tottenham and Portsmouth manager was rumoured to have been lined up by Nigeria’s Sports Ministry to replace Gernot Rohr.

However, on Tuesday, the Nigerian Football

Federation ( NFF) confirmed that Rohr had reached an agreement to continue in his role in charge of the Super Eagles. Addressing the claims on TALKSPORT, Redknapp joked: “Yeah, well, I spoke to Sandra and she’s always wanted to live in Nigeria. “She said it’s amazing that this has come up now, because that was her dream. So we’re looking to sell up, we’re putting the house on the market.

We’re looking to get somewhere over there if possible. I’m sure, she’d love it there. I’ve told her, she’d absolutely love it. I’m ready to go!’

The 73- year- old, who has not managed since a brief stint at Birmingham in 2017, added: “I actually went there a few years ago with Portsmouth, we played Manchester United, but I don’t think I’ll really be going back.’

Rohr’s deal was due to expire in June but that has now been extended.

The NFF have described the rumours linking Redknapp to the job as ‘ a hoax,’ according to Goal.