Congratulations to the Nigeria Basketball Team for this moment and it holds a special place for me personally.
Congratulations to the Nigeria Basketball Federation led by Ahmadu Kida-Musa and his team for managing to get Coach Mike Brown and these amazing youngsters to commit to Nigeria and all the sacrifice.
I spent 5 years between 2004-2009 as Consultant to the Nigeria Basketball Federation, helping to lay the foundation for a day like this. Thanks “D’Tigers”
When we sold Basketball in 2004, we told Sponsors that Nigeria was the first African team to win a game at the Olympics after “D’Tigeress’ returned from Athens 2004.
It’s not yet the Olympic Gold medal or the World Championship but beating the USA in a Basketball game was always motivation for those years.
We delivered Sponsorships and relaunched the League in 2006 and the first full season, we had one player, Ejike Ugboaja drafted to the NBA but last year, incredibly, a record 8 Players drafted
Since Hakeem Olajuwon was drafted to the NBA in 1984 along with FIBA Hall of famer, Yomi Sangodeyi, Nigeria has had a lot of Players go through the NBA but our organization has always been riddled with political battles and this has held “D’Tigers” back.
We also have a huge choice of second generation US Born Players in the NBA and the NCAA circuit and more in Europe to choose from both Men and Women’s teams if all eligible Players opt for Nigeria.
This is the time for Nigeria Basketball family to put all differences aside and come together to do two things….
Back the National teams to succeed and build Local Basketball structures so we can make our team one of the best in the World so Nigerian Kids born anywhere in the world will dream about playing for “D’Tigers” and “D’Tigeress’
I wish both our Men and Women’s teams great success in Tokyo Olympics and let this be the beginning rather than the zenith.
