President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Engr Musa Kida said that the race for a place in the 2021 FIFA and AfroBasket is not yet over.
The NBBF and D’Tigers have continued to be showered with accolades after a perfect start in the ongoing tournament in Rwanda.
Engr Kida while speaking in a statement on Monday set the record straight as he doesn’t want the team to be distracted.
After victories in their previous games there are report that D’Togers have qualified to the next round but Kida said it’s too early to boost of qualification.
He noted that there are three matches to be played before picking the ticket for the FIBA and AfroBasket ticket.
The NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida while reacting to media reports said the team is a work in progress under a new coach, Mike Brown who has shown his commitment to the project.
“The results you are seeing is the manifestation of weeks of brainstorming, planning, scouting, camping and financial commitment by the federation.
“Despite the huge margins against South Sudan, Rwanda and Mali, those wins never came easy.”
“A South Sudan that many could have easily taken for granted as a debutant in this round who had to replace Algeria who withdrew from the qualification race shocked Mali and Rwanda in their backyard”.
“We are still looking for individuals and corporate organizations to key into what we are doing as a federation in the area of sponsorships and endorsement to boost our finances because the Federal Government cannot do it all”, Kida continued.
He reiterated his full commitment to turn the team into a global brand that Nigerians and the continent of Africa will be proud of.
“As a federation, we are not in competition with anybody. We are in competition with ourselves as a board as we have set out short, medium and long term goals if well supported by all stakeholders will turn Nigerian basketball into a brand.”
“We will continue to take those steady steps in our quest to turn around the fortunes of basketball in line with our promise when we came on board in 2017”, Kida assured.