The National 3×3 teams have departed the country aboard a Rwanda Air flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport to Kampala, Uganda for the 2019 FIBA 3×3 Africa Cup.
Kano Pillars duo of Godwin David and Lucky Subel alongside Agu Ibeh (Gombe Bulls) and Victor Koko (Rivers Hoopers) made the final men’s team released by the Team’s head coach, Chris Acha.
For the Women, Zenith Bank Women Basketball League winner, Okah Chinwe of Air Warriors of Abuja will team up with Gloria Umeh (Plateau Rocks), Dangosu Theresa (Customs) and 2019 Africa Games gold medalist, Ifunaya Okoro (First Bank).
Despite all four making their debut at the senior level, the team will hope to go a step further and surpass its silver medal finish at the 2017 edition.
The men’s team won the inaugural edition in 2017 and settled for the bronze medal at the 2018 edition hosted in Lome, Togo.
The U18 boys team comprises Oyedokun Olamilekan (Flygerian Academy), Akomolafe Olamilekan (Kwara Falcons), Mustapha Oyebanji (Kwara Falcons) and Kanyinsola Odufuwa (Hoops and Read).
Ezebilo Grace (MFM) tops the list of the U18 girls team alongside John Grace (First Bank), Ubi Majomary (Dolphins) and Godgift Joseph (MFM).
Meanwhile, the technical crew headed by Acha will consist of Christopher Okoh, Juliana Akhere, Nnorom Mark while Simon Evbuoman will be the accompanying referee.
The 12 teams registered for the men’s competition will be divided into 4 pools of 3 teams and will play a round-robin phase leading to a single elimination in the quarter-final games.
The U18 boys and girls competition starts on Thursday, 7 November while the men and women’s events will tipoff on Friday, 8 November.
Nigeria is grouped alongside the Niger Republic, Uganda and Burundi in group B in the men’s draw while the girls will battle Egypt, Mali and Kenya in group A in the U18 category.
