Diogu: Nigeria will be ready for Rio Olympics

Four years ago, Nigeria fell short of meeting their expectations by winning just one of five games at the London Olympics. Team captain Ike Diogu has warned that things will be different in Rio in August.

At the 2016 Summer Games, the Africa champions will look to become the first team from the continent to win at least two games in the Olympic Basketball Tournament in more than 20 years.

In 2012, the Nigerians (1-4) beat then African champions Tunisia (0-5) for their only win of the competition and fell short of matching or bettering Angola's 2-5 mark achieved at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Nigeria have been drawn in Group B of the men's event at Rio 2016 along with Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Lithuania and will be joined by one of the winners of the three FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs).

It will be the Western Africans' second consecutive Olympic appearance and Diogu insisted things will be a lot better for the D'Tigers in Brazil.

"It's going to be our second Olympics together. We know what to expect, how to prepare the right way," he said to FIBA.com. "It's a good feeling. Those are all top ranked national teams. It's something that everybody is excited for. We are excited to see how far we've come since 2012."

Although Nigeria will face Spain and hosts Brazil for the first time-ever at the Olympics, they already have a history with Argentina and Lithuania. They are 1-1 against Lithuania in their clashes at the 2012 OQT and ensuing Olympics campaign. They lost to the South Americans in the Group Phase of the London Games.

"We have improved since 2012, they've improved since 2012. I think it's going be really good match-ups," Diogu said. "We are better as team now. We are a better prepared team than we were in 2012. I feel like we have the best coaching staff out there, and our attention to detail is a lot better."

Since 2012, Nigeria have emerged as the main threat to 11-time African champions Angola, whom they defeated in the Final of AfroBasket 2015 to qualify directly for Rio.

Diogu is currently in Dallas and "working out and prepare for the Olympics" after his club season with Guangdong Southern Tigers ended when they lost to Liaoning Flying Leopards in the Semi-Finals of the Chinese league playoffs.

The Nigerians are expected to open a training camp for the Olympics on 1 July.

"I talk to them all the time," he said about his national team colleagues. "As a matter of fact head coach [Will] Voigt was the one who told us about the draw. He is excited to coach us and we are excited to get back together to work and see what what we can do for the country of Nigeria."

Nigeria will open their Rio Olympics campaign against Argentina on Sunday 7 August.

CFCman:

http://www.fiba.com/olympics/2016/news/diogu-nigeria-will-be-ready-for-rio-olympics

TheSuperNerd:
Ike Diogu, The Aminu brothers (one stars for Portland blazers or so in the NBA), Gbinijie and co. Our D'Tigers have fine players who could stun opponents at the olympics (but mehn!! Our group is a very tough one... Argentina and Spain are powerhouses. Lithuania is another interesting force).

But I also think we should reach out to Festus Ezeli and Andre Iguodala, both of the Golden state Warriors in the American NBA.

#JustSaying

TheSuperNerd:
Ike Diogu, The Aminu brothers (one stars for Portland blazers or so in the NBA), Gbinijie and co. Our D'Tigers have fine players who could stun opponents at the olympics (but mehn!! Our group is a very tough one... Argentina and Spain are powerhouses. Lithuania is another interesting force).
But I also think we should reach out to Festus Ezeli and Andre Iguodala, both of the Golden state Warriors in the American NBA.
#JustSaying

chrisooblog:
Iguodalo has already played for dream team USA at the 2012 Olympics ezeli hmm he hasn't said no but he hasn't said yes either but who knows (not holding my breath sha) as per d'tigers chances it will tough two of the top three basketball teams in the world in our group plus host Brazil with a strong Lithuania? Well I'm backing d'tigers anyhow hope the girls make it would be cool to have two basketball teams in Rio

For our medal hopes well can't say I'm overly optimistic but any chance we have lie with blessing okagbare, the lady wrestlers and most definitely our football dream team

TheSuperNerd:
@CFCman... I'm just seeing your post. I was still typing and left to go do something before I came back to finish up and "walla" you also mentioned Victor Oladipo.

We need to really beef up the good squad we have.

Victor Oladipo may not represent Nigeria at Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Sorry Nigerians, but Victor Oladipo may just have broken some hearts. Basketball enthusiasts hoping to see the Orlando Magic shooting guard join the D’Tigers for next Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil may be saddened by the latest development.

USA Basketball, the United States basketball program, invited Oladipo along with other NBA players to participate in a minicamp in Las Vegas to select players for its 2016 team to the Olympics, according to ESPN reporter Marc Stein.

There were indications a few months ago that Oladipo may represent Nigeria, his parents’ birth country, in international tournaments. Hopes were up around Nigeria in February when the Indiana University alumna announced during the NBA All Star weekend that he strongly identifies with Nigeria.
“Both my parents are from Nigeria. They came over here about 28 years ago for better work and better lives, that’s the blood that goes in my veins. I am Nigerian at the end of the day.” – Victor Oladipo.

In response to the hint that he may one day play for Nigeria, former national team coach of D’Tigers Ayodele Bakare could not hide his excitement, knowing the benefits of having a player of Oladipo’s calibre represent the country.

“Did I not tell you that we can get him to play for us? Now, it’s over to you, NBBF. Let your recruiting machinery go to work overtime. Let’s make hay while the sun is shining. This boy must not get away.”

Well, it appears the boy did get away. Perhaps, the Nigerian Basketball Federation’s recruiting machinery was not up to the task. It was under Bakare’s watch that the likes of Al-Farouq Aminu, Alade Aminu, and Ike Diogu were recruited to represent Nigeria at London 2012, Nigeria’s debut at a male basketball tournament in an Olympic event where the United States dominated Nigeria in epic fashion.

USAB managing director Jerry Colangelo said that the invitation to participate at the three day event from August 11 to 13 is mandatory for those players seeking to secure a spot on the 12-man roster for the United States team to Rio 2016. “It’s important for everyone to be here as a sign of commitment for 2016,” Colangelo said.

Those hoping to see the 6’4 high-flying Oladipo wear a green-white-green jersey may as well kiss that chance goodbye.

CFCman:

Unfortunately, it looks like Victor Oladipo may opt for the Stars and Stripes..

http://www.basketballwithinborders.com/news/victor-oladipo-may-not-represent-nigeria-at-rio-2016-olympic-games/

TheSuperNerd:
Hmm.... Quite unfortunate. But what if he doesn't make the final 12 for the stars and stripes of the US of A? #smiles

Anyway, I wish him the best. The NBBF should please do well to reach out to other quality talents available like Festus Ezeli.... Or was he invited to the USA basketball pre-olympic camp too?

Well, time will tell.... With Alade Aminu, Al-Farouq Aminu, Ike Diogu, Chamberlain Oguchi and others, all led by Will Voigt, I see a pretty strong D'Tigers team @Rio. Imagine adding one or two more top quality to this team (Ezeli is still available)..... Hmm.... Time will tell. #smiles

Wrestling: Nigeria picks six more Rio 2016 Olympics slots

NIGERIA has qualified six more wrestlers for the Rio 2016 Olympics holding later this year in Brazil at the just concluded African/Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Algeria. Six out of 10 wrestlers presented by the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) have booked slots to participate at the 2016 Rio Olympics scheduled for 5th to 21st August 2016.

Four female wrestlers and two male freestyle wrestlers joined Odunayo Adekuoroye who had earlier qualified by winning a bronze medal in the 53kg weight class at the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas on the road to Rio. This brings to a total of seven wrestlers made up of five females and two males, the highest number to ever qualify for the Games in the history of wrestling in Nigeria.

Amas Daniel in the 65kg weight class and Soso Tamara in the 97kg were the latest qualifiers in the freestyle wrestling concluded yesterday while earlier in the same tournament, four female wrestlers booked their passage at the weekend which include Mercy Genesis (48kg),Aminat Adeniyi (58kg), Blessing Oborududu (63kg) and Hannah Reuben (69Kg). In the male freestyle category, Africa champion, Daniel Amas (65K) maintained his form by defeating Australian Sahit Prizreni and will be joined by Africa bronze medallist, Soso Tamara to hoist the Nigerian flag in the freestyle wrestling at the Games.

All Africa Games champion, Mercy Genesis who did not win any medal at the 2016 Africa Championship went haywire as she won all her three bouts against Hanene Salaounandji of Algeria defeating her by 10-0; Cameroun’s Rebecca Muambo 7-2 and Jessica Lavers-Mc Bain of Australia by 10-0. In the 58kg weight class, Aminat Adeniyi placed second after failing to beat Tunisia’s Marwa Amri by pin fall. Also seven-time African champion, Blessing Oborodudu was narrowly beaten 8-7 by another Tunisia wrestler, Hela Riabi After failing to participate at the 2016 Africa Championship, Hannah Reuben made up for her loss as she won a gold medal for team Nigeria defeating Egyptian, Enas Ahmed by 8-2.

Other wrestlers who could not book their slots for the Games are; Female wrestler, Blessing Onyebuchi (75Kg), male freestyle, Welson Ebikewinimo (57Kg), Melvin Bibo (74Kg) and Emmanuel Nworie (Greco Roman 66Kg). Reacting yesterday to their achievement, an elated President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Dr Daniel Igali showered praises on the wrestlers for making him proud with the number of qualifiers as he equally thanked the Sports ministry for making it possible for them to be in Algiers, Algeria. “I’m so glad with wrestlers’ performance, we have never had it like this in the history of wrestling in Nigeria. We are going to work harder before the Games proper to ensure we cap our efforts by picking an Olympic medal in Rio”, he said.

CFCman:
The Draw for the Olympic football tournament comes up next week Thursday at 2:30pm WAT.

TheSuperNerd:
Mehn.... I can't wait for this. #smiles

Maybe we'll face the Germans or Samba boys? Hehehe... Naah.. Maybe not. #smiles

CFCman:
Festus Ezeli (basketball) is reportedly interested in playing for Nigeria.

CFCman:
Men's draw:

Group A- Brazil, South Africa, Iraq, Denmark

Group B- Sweden, Colombia, Nigeria, Japan

Group C- Fiji, Korea Republic, Mexico, Germany

Group D- Honduras, Algeria, Portugal, Argentina


Women's draw:

Group E - Brazil, China PR, Sweden, South Africa

Group F- Canada, Australia, Zimbabwe, Germany

Group G- USA, New Zealand, France, Colombia.

TheSuperNerd:
It's not an easy group nor a tough group... it's just a balanced group which moves towards "favorable" for us....

I tip Nigeria to come out top but not without good fights.

Can someone please tell me if James Rodriguez and Shinji Okazaki will be available? I wanna play them....

For the women's draw, well, I just wish the two African teams all the best... Bonne chance ladies...

They'll really need it... Gosh!!! Look at the teams they'll be up against. Well, the experience will serve them well for the CAF AWCON much later this year.