Basketball: Mali to replace D’Tigress at 2022 Women World Cup

The female basketball team of Mali will replace Nigeria at the 2022 Women’s World Cup expected to hold in Sydney, Australia, later in the year, following the withdrawal of the Nigerian team from the tournament.

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced the decision in a statement on Thursday.

Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, said last month that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the withdraw of Nigeria from competing in any international basketball competition for the next two years.

The minister added that the decision was part of efforts by the government to revamp the sport from the grassroots.

The move came amid the ongoing power tussle within the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).

In the statement, FIBA said the NBBF “is unable to confirm its participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022.”

Consequently, it said D’Tigress would be replaced by Mali at the competition.

The statement read in part, “FIBA was informed about the decision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to withdraw the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) from all international basketball competitions and activities for a period of two years,” the statement read.

“In subsequent communications with the NBBF, and despite FIBA’s request, it has become clear that against the circumstances created by the government’s decision, the NBBF is unable to confirm its participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022.

“Given the multiple strict deadlines that cannot be postponed in order to ensure the successful staging of a major international event (visa procedures, schedules, ticket sales, accommodations, friendly games, preliminary rosters, flight tickets, accreditations, etc.) and to protect the integrity of the competition, the FIBA Executive Committee has decided as follows.

“Nigeria’s withdrawal from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 is confirmed.

“Mali, as the next ranked team from Group B of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, is invited to participate in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022

“FIBA will announce whether there will be any other decisions related to the NBBF’s participation in other FIBA competitions and any potential disciplinary measures in due course.”