Nigeria’s male and female basketball teams have arrived Lomé, the Togolese capital on Thursday to compete for the 2018 FIBA 3×3 Africa Cup led by Frank Jituboh, Director of 3×3 Nigeria and Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Basketball Association.

Kano Pillars’ presence is felt in the male team as three players, Azouma Dike (C), Abdul Yahaya, Lucky Subel and Godwin David make up the squad.

D’Tigress come into the competition from the just concluded National Women’s Basketball League and an earlier, history-making, 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup were they got to the quarterfinals.

World Cup debutant and Women’s Basketball League Most Valuable Player, Nkem Uwa Akaraiwe and Grace Okonkwo will join forces with Nkechi Akaraiwe who scored 32 points, 2 assists and 5 rebounds to hand First Bank the title.

Team coach, Acha Chris also included 2018 3×3 u-18 African Youth Games MVP, Ijeh Ifunnaya Linda in the squad after an excellent performance for Dolphins in the just concluded Women’s League.

D’Tigers go into the tournament as returning champions looking to defend the title they won in 2017 while the women will hope to win the title this time around after they lost by a narrow margin to Mali in the 2017 final.

Points gathered from the competition will form a prerequisite for qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where 3×3 style of basketball will make a historic debut.