Nanterre Basketball of France player, Aminu Abdul Alade and Lawal Olaseni of Scandone AV of Italy have both made a sensational return to D’Tigers team ahead of this month’s 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers holding in Lagos,National Daily learnt.
Both players who last featured for the senior national teams at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil have been recalled by D’Tigers Head Coach, Alex Nwora for the crunchy games against Mali, Rwanda and Uganda.
The duo will be joined by team captain, Diogu Ikechukwu (Sichun Blue Whales, China) Uzoh Benjamin (CB Caballero De Culican, Mexico), Mbamalu Bryant (CD Vildivia, Chile), Zanna Talib (Ironi Nes-Zion’s, Italy), Emenago Obinna Clinton (Rouen Basket, France) and Mike Efevberha (Beirut Club, Lebanon).
Meanwhile, 9 other new faces have also been called and are likely to make their national debut if selected in the final 12 -man team for the 3rd window of the qualifiers.
Listed are Omoerah Keith Sado (Baerum Basket, Norway), Braxton Ogbueze Jai (Charlotte University, USA), Nwora Jordan (University of Louisville, USA) Agada Caleb Apochi (Prat, Spain) and Okosun Augustine Obehioye (Sameji, Dominican Republic).
Others are London based Jesse Adekoya, Attah AbdulAziz (JeanD Brebeau, Canada), Mehinti Tosin Idowu (Lavrio, Greece) and Moses Kingsley (Antwerp Giants, Belgium).
To adequately prepare the team for the task ahead, D’Tigers will play 4 friendlies against Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon and Benin Republic.
The first 2 games will be against Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan on 23rd and 24th June, 2018 while on the 26th and 27th, they will face Gabon and Republic of Benin respectively.
The team will start its campaign against on the 29th at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.