The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has announced that the Nigerian female basketball team, D’Tigress, will not participate in the 2022 Women’s Basketball World Cup.

FIBA made this known via a statement on its website on Thursday.

It noted that the development followed the withdrawal of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) from all international basketball competitions and activities for a period of two years.

FIBA added that the D’Tigress would be replaced by Mali at the 2022 Women’s Basketball World Cup scheduled for Sydney, Australia, in September 2022.

Nigeria had defeated France and Mali in the final to qualify for the tournament.

The statement read: “FIBA was informed about the decision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to withdraw the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) from all international basketball competitions and activities for a period of two years.

“In subsequent communications with the NBBF, and despite FIBA’s request, it has become clear that against the circumstances created by the government’s decision, the NBBF is unable to confirm its participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022.

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“Given the multiple strict deadlines that cannot be postponed in order to ensure the successful staging of a major international event (visa procedures, schedules, ticket sales, accommodations, friendly games, preliminary rosters, flight tickets, accreditations, etc.) and to protect the integrity of the competition, the FIBA Executive Committee has decided as follows:

“Nigeria’s withdrawal from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 is confirmed

“Mali, as the next ranked team from Group B of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, is invited to participate in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022.

“FIBA will announce whether there will be any other decisions related to the NBBF’s participation in other FIBA competitions and any potential disciplinary measures in due course.”

It would be recalled that the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on May 12, 2022, announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the withdrawal of Nigeria from all international basketball competitions for a period of two years with immediate effect.

Dare said the ban was in order to concentrate efforts by the government towards revamping the sport from the grassroots as well as domestic leagues which have become moribund.

The minister added a committee would be set up to oversee basketball leagues in the country.

“Following the unending crisis which have plagued and nearly crippled the development of basketball in Nigeria, President Buhari has approved the withdrawal of Nigeria from all international basketball competitions for a period of two years.

“This is with immediate effect,” he had said.

The Star