Disrespecting Champions: How NBBF's Handling of Tryouts Undermines Nigerian Women's Basketball

Real Talk with Kingsley Ogwudire

In a shocking display of disrespect and mismanagement, the current board of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) has dealt a severe blow to the country's women's basketball team, D'Tigress. The recent handling of tryouts, which were poorly organized and placed an unfair burden on the players, has raised concerns about the team's ability to assemble a top-quality roster for the upcoming Afrobasket Championship. This article aims to shed light on the disarray within the NBBF and the detrimental impact it has had on Nigerian women's basketball.

The appointment of Rena Wakama as the new coach of the Nigerian women's basketball team should have been a step forward. However, the tryouts organized by the NBBF turned out to be a significant setback. Initially scheduled to take place in Chicago, the second day of tryouts was abruptly cancelled due to a lack of sufficient players. As a result, the tryouts were relocated to Abuja, Nigeria, just days before the start of the Afrobasket Championship.

This last-minute change and lack of planning have drawn sharp criticism from players, particularly established stars within the team. Oderah Chidom, a key player from the 2019 Afrobasket Championship-winning squad, made the decision to quit the team, expressing her disappointment and citing the perceived lack of professionalism from the NBBF.
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