Commonwealth Games: D’Tigers get tough draw, to face Australia, Canada
Nigeria has been drawn alongside Australia, New Zealand and Canada in the basketball event of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Despite being ranked number one in Africa and 32nd in the world, Nigeria is still the lowest ranking team in the group.
Hosts Australia finished fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and are ranked 10th in the world.
New Zealand will be taking part in its 21st Commonwealth Games, having competed in every tournament since inception in 1930.
D’Tigers will start their campaign against New Zealand on Friday, April 6, before taking on Canada a day later.
On Monday, April 10, the Nigerian team will battle the host nation.
Reacting to the draws, Babatunde Ogunade, vice president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), said the D’Tigers were placed in the group of death.
Ogunade said the team’s performance will be hinged on the preparation for the games.
“We want to use it as preparation for the World cup qualifier in which case we bring in foreign-based players to join their home-grown counterparts for a longer period, get more practice and bonding time for the team,” he said.
“We will use the opportunity of the Commonwealth camping to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers of both windows.”
The Commonwealth Games preparation camp opened in Lagos on Friday.
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