D’Tigers Head Coach Alex Nwora has revealed his plan for the World Cup, almost confirming no player from the domestic league will make Nigeria’s third world cup appearance.
Nigeria qualified for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup with a record of 9-0, and as the first country to punch a ticket for the 18th edition of the competition.
Nwora told the NBBF official page he’ll return to the drawing board and hinted the Coaches will scout the US and also recall the “best players” from the qualifying windows for a trial camp.
Although two domestic league players, Ibe Abuchi Agu (Civil Defenders) and Buchi Nwaiwu (Rivers Hoopers) were drafted as late replacements, the final window was pretty much disappointing.
D’Tigers only managed a win in Ivory Coast and finished the campaign 10-2, and the Coach insists only the best will make the final cut.
‘I have to go back to the drawing board, you’ve got to go with your best players because the world cup is not the type of competition you execute with just any player.
‘We’ll hold trails, we’ll go through our list, look at each position, see who’ll be best in each position.
‘There are so many young players in the US and the NBA that we want to integrate into the system. So being in the camp with all those experienced players that played during the qualifying window will give us a good chance to see what we have going to the world cup and also moving forward in the future.’