The crisis rocking the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) may have started taking its toll on Nigeria’s preparation for the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2017 holding in Bamako, Mali.
For now, the team has not been formally been named while the coaches that will handle the team is yet to be assembled by those administering the sport in the country following the controversy that trailed the national sports federation elections that produced two factions of the Federation.
For the former national female coach, Scott Nnaji, the late preparation would surely affect the team as the team needs to be together few weeks before the kick-off of the championship on August 18.
“It is a source of worry for the team that the preparation for the championships is yet to take off because preparation is very important for any team that is aiming to do well in the tournament. For now, I know that most of the players are training on their own in their various bases and this will put them in good shape for the competition. However, it is very vital that they are in camp for the tournament but we just have to wait for the decision of NBBF for now,” he regretted.
For Cameroun’s Ramses Lonlack, helping Cameroun to a berth in next year’s FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018 remains her priority.
Lonlack has been phenomenal for Cameroon in recent years but she admits there is still something missing to put her national team among the best in the world.
Runners-up as hosts of FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2015, Cameroon have become a continental powerhouse in the making.
And, much of their rise has been credited to a group of players led by Lonlack, an electrifying and fearless shooting guard, who is aiming big at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2017 taking place in Mali on August 18-27.
The former Memphis University ace joined Instituto de Fertilidad Air Europa in Spain’s second tier during the 2015-16 season before playing for Portuguese side Quinta dos Lombos this past campaign.
“Going back to Spain [for FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018] is my ultimate goal. Playing in Spain, in front of some fans is always exciting,” she explained.
“In this tournament anything is achievable,” Lonlack noted. “AfroBasket has grown worldwide and the competition is getting harder. Cameroon will be ready to fight and get one of the World Cup tickets.”
“Group A will be challenging because Mali is playing home. Angola will come back stronger than ever, Tunisia has been improved year by year. A wild card team isn’t known yet but you can’t sleep on any team in this competition,” Lonlack warned.