WORLD basketball governing body, FIBA has warned the Sports Ministry of an impending ban on international tournaments should it go ahead and organise the Men’s Basketball Premier League and FIBA World Cup qualifier.
In a letter addressed to president of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Ahmadu Musa Kida, signed by FIBA president Hamani Niang and Secretary General Andreas Zagklis and copied president of Nigeria Olympic Co0mmiitee, Habu Ahmed Gumel, FIBA says it will not recognise any competition or result that stems from event not controlled by NBBF.
FIBA also kicked against any form of external influence that may arise from the Sports Ministry when there is a substantive NBBF board.
The letter reads: “As you are aware, under article 9.7 of the FIBA’s General Statutes, National Member Federation (NMF) must manage their affairs independently, without the influence of third parties and ensure that their officials are elected or appointed under a democratic process.
“Please be advised that FIBA will not recognise any competition or result that stems from an event not controlled by the NBBF, as per our letter dated 2 November 2021 to the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. FIBA expects that the NBBF celebrates its Electoral Congress no later than 30 November 2021.”
Recall that the NBBF general election had been slated to hold on the last Saturday of October, before the Sports Ministry postponed it indefinitely.
The Ministry would later go on to dissolve the caretaker board of the NBBF, and as it stands, basketball federation in Nigeria has no leadership.
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