Basketball
ZENITH, TOTAL HOSTS VICTORIOUS D’TIGRESS AFTER AFROBASKET WIN
Two major partners of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Zenith Bank and Total E&P played host to winners of the victorious 2019 FIBA Afrobasket winners, D’Tigress at their corporate offices, less than 24 hours after their arrival.
Title sponsors of the Zenith Women Basketball League and Total E&P, sponsors of the Men’s Division 1 and 2 who described the reception as befitting of the African champions, said it was imperative for the girls to be feted and made to understand what they have done for the nation.
Zenith Bank Managing Director, Ebenezer Onyeagwu expressed happiness that the continued investment of the financial institution in Basketball has continued to yield tremendous results on the local and international scene.
“Zenith Bank is so proud of your achievements despite the odds going all out to defend your title in style. As a proud sponsor of the Women’s elite league, we are elated that our partnership with the NBBF has continued to grow and translate to positive results everybody can see.”
Zenith in their tradition disclosed that the team will be credited with a token as their own way of saying “Thank you.”
At Total E&P, Tai Oshisanya, Finance Director while welcoming the team said seeing the team back at Total E&P with the trophy was a thing of joy and a result of the hard work put into the team by the NBBF board, the Technical Crew and the players.
The Executive Director, Corporate Affairs and Communications, Biodun Afolabi described the win as the needed ray of light in such a time like this for all Nigerians.
“Your victory means a lot to the nation. What you have done is not just for yourself, your family or the NBBF but also for the whole nation. You are setting examples for the whole nation with young boys and girls looking up to you that if you could do it, we can do it also.”
While responding, team captain, Adaora Elonu said the dynasty that they are trying to create is finally taking shape with what they have been able to achieve in the past 3 years with 2 Afrobasket titles and an 8th placed finish at the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
“It was important that we came back home and appreciate our fans for their support. We are definitely on a mission. We implore more of Government’s support and corporate organizations to invest in basketball which will make our journey smoother”.
While responding at the event, the NBBF President, Musa Kida appreciated Zenith Bank and Total for deeming it fit to accord the team the deserved recognition after defeating Senegal in their backyard to successfully defend the title they won in 2017.
“Zenith Bank’s passion for women’s basketball development in Nigeria is second to none. Their support for the league and the national team is well documented and we appreciate every bit of it as a federation.”
Reacting during the reception organized by Total, Kida who also doubles as Total Nigeria Deputy Managing Director lauded the recent and growing partnership between NBBF and Total, which he hoped, can get better.
“We are excited at the immense possibilities that this partnership can bring. Today is all about our courageous women.”
D’Tigress went on an unbeaten run of five games defeating host- Senegal in the final to retain their African title.
The team is currently on a 14-game unbeaten run dating back to 2015 when they defeated Angola in the 3rd placed game to clinch the bronze medal.
Musa Kida, the president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), has been appointed as a non-executive chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the country’s apex oil company. His appointment is part of the sweeping overhaul that the Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu made in the first working day after the Sallah break.
The sacking of the board of the NNPC sees the appointment of Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), replacing Mele Kolo Kyari. Prior to his current appointment, Kida was the Deputy Managing Director, Deep Water Services, of Total Nigeria.
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Basketball
NSC DG Bukola Olopade Congratulates NBBF Boss Musa Kida for new appointment as NNPC Chairman
The Director General of the National Sports Commission NSC, Bukola Olopade, has congratulated the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, Musa Kida, for his appointment as the new Board Chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Olopade said Musa Kida has been one of Nigeria’s most efficient and Productive Sports administrators who has sacrificed a lot for the growth of Nigerian Basketball.
The DG maintained that his latest appointment is a testament to his years of passion, hard work, dedication and a very successful track record in the oil sector for more than two decades.
” Musa Kida is an accomplished administrator whose achievements cut across both the oil sector and Nigerian basketball. I have no doubt that the NNPC Limited will attain better efficiency and attract more investment under his watch”.
” Under his leadership as the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, we have seen the steady growth of the country’s basketball and how the National teams have continued to achieve new heights.
” At the last Olympic Games in France, the Nigeria Women’s Basketball team, D’Tigress was one of the shining stories for Team Nigeria, where they set a new record by making it to the knockout phase before losing to the United States”.
” I personally know the efforts behind the scenes that kida put in for Nigeria to achieve that feat with the girls in France and the Nigerian girls have been an unrivalled team on the continent for some time now”.
The DG added that he does not doubt that Musa Kida will use his new position to further earnest the development of Nigerian Sports especially basketball especially now that there is a new focus on growing a sustainable Sports Economy.
” Whilst the Oil sector will benefit immensely from the Expertise of Musa Kida as the new Board Chairman of the NNPC Limited, Mr President, has further helped to place Nigerian Sports in a better pedestal by putting one of us in a very strategic place like the NNPC”, he concluded.
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Basketball
FIBA names Nigeria’s Agada among those who starred the most on the last day of the 2025 AfroBasket Qualifiers
The 16 teams that will be competing at this year’s FIBA AfroBasket from 12-24 August have been confirmed, with some teams securing their places on the final day of qualifying.
A quintet of individuals put in stellar performances to send their teams to this year’s African championship in style.
Teams have 169 days to prepare for the 2025 edition of the AfroBasket set to be hosted by former champions Angola, who will be chasing a record-extending 12th title.
FIBA- Africa looked at the matches and the players and featured nine players who were the stars of the final day on Sunday.
Here is FIBA’s analysis: The return of the Tokyo Olympian has been a blessing for Abdulrahman Mohammed’s Nigeria.
For the second game in a row, Agada was a thorn in their side’s side, scoring 23 points in a convincing 77-62 win over 2021 AfroBasket semifinalists Cape Verde.
The 30-year-old played just over 30 minutes and finished two rebounds shy of a double-double while adding six assists and five steals for an efficiency rating of 29.
Nigeria entered the competition after an 0-3 start, but his disruptive presence on the floor helped them to a 3-0 run to qualify, averaging 19 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists.
The other players highlighted are: Ousmane Drame of Guinea, Karim Maneof Senegal, Childe Dundao of Angola, Siriman Kanoute of Mali, as well as Ntore Habimana (Rwanda) Aliou Fadiala Diarra (Mali) Allan Dokossi (Central African Republic)and Nisre Zouzoua (Cote d’Ivoire)
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