PRESIDENT BUHARI BANS BASKETBALL IN NIGERIA FOR TWO YEARS

The president Muhammadu Buhari Federal government administration has announced a ban on basketball in Nigeria.⁣
⁣
According to the Buhari administration, the ban will is to prevent the country from participating in any international basketball competition.⁣
⁣
The ban on basketball in the country was announced on Thursday, May 12, 2022.⁣
⁣
The ban is set to take effect immediately and comes after leadership struggle involving the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).⁣
⁣
The ban sanctioned by President Buhari was made known in a statement by Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development.⁣
⁣
International basketball governing body (FIBA) were set to ban Nigeria over the lingering leadership crisis with the NBBF.⁣
⁣
D’Tigress to face Canada, Japan, Serbia, France and Australia in Group B D’Tigress STUN World No. 5 France 67-65 in FIBA Women’s Qualifying Tournament⁣
⁣
In the last few years, basketball has been a source of joy to sports loving Nigerians. The men (D’Tigers) and women’s (D’Tigress) team qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.⁣
⁣
With the two-year ban, basketball is now under lockdown and the country cannot participate in international events as well.⁣
⁣
This announcement by the Buhari administration comes after the D’Tigress qualified for the upcoming 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup scheduled to take place at in Sydney, Australia in September.⁣
⁣
Nigeria’s also has several players in the NBA that has expressed interest in participating in the upcoming 2023 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup qualifiers.⁣
⁣
Milwaukee Bucks star Jordan Nwora recently stated that he intends to help D’Tigers qualify for the World Cup.⁣
⁣
The latest ban however would mean that Nigeria will not take part at the World Cup tournament and qualification process.⁣