Earlier in May 2022, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), gave his approval to the Sports minister Sunday Dare, “with immediate effect, to withdraw Nigeria from all international basketball competitions for two years”, this is a result of the leadership squabble in the NBBF. This would enable the country to renovate the sport from the grassroots, as well as terminate the instability in basketball.
In response to the letter, FIBA warns Nigeria about the risk of being sanctioned according to Articles 9.7 and 10.2 of FIBA’s General Statutes.
If the absence of Nigeria from international competitions for the next two years materializes, the consequences may spread out well past such two years. Also, FIBA takes the opportunity to remind NBBF that according to Article 9.6 of FIBA General Statutes, “NBBF would manage its affairs with no influence from third parties”.
However, if Nigeria decides to move ahead with the withdrawal, it means that Nigeria would miss out on the 2024 Olympics, 2025 World championship games for both men and women, and the next two Afrobasket Championships (male and female) and other games.
