₦airaland Forum

Crazy game last night between Nigeria and Croatia. Nigeria will now how to do it all against Brazil next.

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/olympics-nigeria-earn-first-win-over-croatia/

This guy looks like he will be the next Olajuwon, only 14 years old !

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/next-up-charles-bassey/

D'Tigress currently sit at the top of Group B in the Women's Afrobasket in a group consisting of Angola, Senegal and Egypt. They are through to the knockout stage where the real game will start, what do you think ?...and you can read more below

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/afrobasket-nigeria-womens-team-wins-third-straight-game/

The basketball team picked up silver and bronze today

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/aag-team-nigeria-picks-up-bronze-and-silver-in-basketball/

Both the male and female teams have made it to the semi-finals, one more win and they should hopefully medal.

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/all-african-games-team-nigeria-stay-on-course-to-medal/

See highlights here, well done Tigers ! http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/afrobasket-nigeria-win-afrobasket-after-43-year-wait/

abdulkayus:
Guy, the Aminu's are not northerner ooo bt Yoruba. Conc Yoruba. While one is called Al Farouk Aminu, the other is called Alade Aminu

Aminu's are from Ibadan

Check out the full match report,

Oguchi, Lawal, Uzoh and Al Farouq all held their own.

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/afrobasket-nigeria-through-to-their-4th-afrobasket-final/

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/afrobasket-nigeria-announce-26-man-squad/

William Voigt has announced Nigeria’s initial training roster for the 2015 Afrobasket which starts against Uganda, Central Africa Republic and Tunisia on August 21. The 26-man group already started filing into the Abuja based camp when training open last week Wednesday. The team are currently in France taking part in an exhibition tournament that will also see the likes of Senegal, Central Africa and Ivory Coast take part.

Six eye-catching inclusions are Chinemelu Elonu, Michael Gbinije, Olaseni Lawal, Chris Obepka, Ekpe Udoh, and Talib Zanna who will all be joining the national team for the first time. Jason Ebie and Edo Karachi bring the tally of uncapped players to nine. Each of them will be vying for a place in the final 12-man roster.

Deji Akindele Metro’s (Dominican Republic) centre and arguably Nigeria’s best centre in the Pro’s during the last 4 season’s returns to the squad after a 6 year hiatus. Michael Umeh, Akin Akingbala, Derick Obasohan and Ike Ofoegbu are also recalled after missing some periods out.

Elsewhere, wings Stan Okoye and Jamal Olasewere are included on the back of solid campaigns in Europe, while Ike Diogu, Olumide Oyedeji, Alade and Al Farouq Aminu continue to show their commitment to the National program.

Micheal Eric who just finished NBA summer league action with the Milwaukee Bucks is looking ahead to an extensive and exacting training schedule where he believes his defensive presence will be a valuable addition to the team. “I will be able to contribute as a rim protector, I take pride in defence overall and in intense tournaments, the team with the best defense goes far”.

The Nigerian team will resume exhibition action tomorrow when they take on Central African. This training squad is set to be reduced after they leave Paris and subsequently reduced again as the Afrobasket approaches approach.

Nigeria Afrobasket Initial Squad (26)

Deji Akindele – Metros (Dominican Republic)
Akin Akingbala – Rouen (France)
Al-Farouq Aminu – Portland Trailblazers (NBA)
Alade Aminu – TED Kolejliler (Turkey)
Ike Diogu – Ponce (Puerto Rico)
Jason Ebie – Lagos Islanders (Nigeria)
Chinemelu Elonu – Arecibo (Puerto Rico)
Micheal Eric – Enel Brindisi (Italy)
Michael Gbinije – Syracuse (NCAA)
Stanley Gumut – Marmentors (Nigeria)
Edo Karachi – Fresno State (NCAA)
Olaseni Lawal – Barcelona (Spain)
Derrick Obasohan – Monaco (France)
Chris Obepka – St John’s (NCAA) *Is transferring
Ikechukwu Ofoegbu – Arecibo (Puerto Rico)
Andy Ogide – Poitiers (France)
Chamberlain Oguchi – Unaattached
Stanley Okoye – Varese (Italy)
Jamal Olasewere – Verviers-Prep (Belgium)
Olumide Oyedeji – London Lions (Great Britain)
Ekpe Udoh – Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)
Michael Umeh – Tezenis Verona (Italy)
Abubakar Usman – Kano Pillars (Nigeria)
Ben Uzoh – Lagos Islanders (Nigeria)
Abdulwahab Yahaya – Markmentors (Nigeria)
Talib Zanna – Oklahoma City B (NBA D-League)

Afam4eva: His father has never supported his Basketball career. Is his dad from Sierra Leone or probably nationalized there cos an article in yahoo says both of his parents are Nigerians. While his mother is Igbo, his Father is Yoruba, . I've never heard of a Yoruba Sierra-leonian before.

There is a Yoruba community in the Sierria Leone, most of them even still speak Yoruba till today, I think they emigrated there around the 19th centurty

@Afam4eva - There are loads of Nigerian kids to watch out for in College,

Rasheed Sulaimon - Duke
Talib Zanna - Pittsburgh
Daniel Ochefu - Villanova
Melvin Ejim - Iowa State
Mike Gbinije - Syracuse
Nnanna Egwu - Illinois
Kevin Olekaibe - UNLV
Retin Obasohan - Alabama
Ben Emelogu - Virginia Tech

This site usually covers all of them -

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/rankings/

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/rankings/2014-ranking/

You all should take it easy with your "information"

Victor Oladipo's dad is a Yoruba from Sierra Leone, his mum is Nigerian (Ibo) and he was born and raised in America. (Funny thing is that Victor is very close with his mum and not at all close with his dad)

Jeff Green's mum is American but she married a Nigerian.

Jahlil Okafor's dad is Nigerian and Jahlil actually visited Nigeria some years ago. His mum is American but she passed away when he was young.

Rasheed Sulaimon's dad is Nigerian, Mum is from Jamaica.

Keep up with the team's performances right here, hopefully they go one step further than our men, top 2 qualify for the world championships.

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/nigeria-record-first-win-in-womens-afrobasket/

https://teamnigeriabasketball.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/NdidiM17.jpg

Star Player - Ndidi Madu

https://teamnigeriabasketball.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DTigress.jpg

Stan Okoye's favorite food is peppersoup....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZw7e5TbL58

See these guys are balling o...http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/nigeria-overwhelms-central-africa-republic/

I hope they dont let up against Senegal later today...

It is hard to compare Angola and Nigeria, first off just take a look at the population difference of both countries, I believe if we can put more money into our basketball program and maybe encourage our players oversees to support the development, we could go places. Angola are also getting some support from their players and officials based in Portugal, maybe we need to do the same, we have guys like Hakeem Olajuwon, Masai Ujiri and Ime Udoka who can lend their support to the nation only if the right foundation is there....

This site usually gives regular updates on Nigerian basketball and recently did an interview with Tijani Umar, President of NBBF

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/tnb-interview-tijani-umar-it-all-comes-down-to-hard-work/

I guess lack of funding and organisation has not helped, but the guys that are abroad are doing very well....Afrobasket is in August

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/masai-ujiri-nba-executive-of-the-year/


Masai Ujiri – NBA Executive Of The Year.Pros — 10 May 2013

The General Manager of the Denver Nuggets Masai Ujiri capped off a wonderful year in basketball after being named the 2012-13 NBA Executive of the Year. Ujiri, who is the first African-born general manager in major American sports, was the brains behind a well-balanced Nuggets’ roster, a squad that won 57 games, the most in Denver’s NBA history. The Denver Nuggets went on to finish third in the Western Conference, and although they lost in the first round of the Playoffs to the Golden State Warriors, it was an impressive season for a squad without a major superstar. Speaking at his press conference after receiving his award, Ujiri was quoted as saying…

“This is a team sport, a team game. It’s about all of us and bringing all of us together to try and achieve a championship, which for me is a bigger trophy. That’s the goal in Denver. That’s what we want to do here.”

A long way from his hometown of Zaria, Nigeria, Ujiri was part of the Coaching Staff for the Nigerian Junior teams between 2002-2007, he also served as an Assistant to Coach John Lucas for the 2009 African Championship for Men in Libya. His work in endorsing basketball development programs in Africa such as Basketball Without Borders and various camps in Africa is unprecedented, a large number of players have gone through these programs to earn scholarships’ to top division one programs in America..

“The NBA has done a great job of spreading the word and giving us a chance to do what we do in Africa and develop the game there,” he said. “I have to produce (in the NBA). By producing and winning, that will change things over there.

Despite Ujiri’s recent accomplishments, the former NBA scout remains humble and committed to improving the fortunes of the Denver Nuggets franchise, he realises that there is still more work to be done behind the scenes, however, there is no doubt that the foundation he has laid will open the door for more accolades for the young GM in the near future.

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/victor-oladipo-and-chiney-ogwumike-rise-through-olajuwons-legacy/

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404750_613907671970469_638933379_n.jpg



These two are the real deal, when is Naija going to cap them ,I hear Chiney is in Nigeria right now...

What do you guys think, we lost to Cameroon last time we played them in 2009...

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/afrobasket-2013-nigeria-face-cameroon-congo-mali/

He's 6'10 born and raised in Greece through Nigerian parents, him and his brother have never had a Greek passport or citizenship, they have been living as immigrants, but one is being fast tracked for them right now by the Greek Embassy. Masai Ujiri has already gone to watch him play, and he might be declaring for the NBA drafts this season, he is '10 and can play all five positions, this is a video of him....http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=4787&action=edit

The best-kept secret in NBA scouting circles in a secret no more.

Meet Giannis Antetokoumpo, a 6-10 point guard who already has signed to play professionally next season for Zaragoza in Spain.

Yes, a 6-10 point guard, a Greek freak of Nigerian heritage who could end up being a first-round draft pick after putting on quite a show in the Greek national junior tournament attended by Bryan Colangelo of the Toronto Raptors and Masai Ujiri of the Denver Nuggets.

Antetokoumpo had 33 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals to lead the junior club Filathlitikos into the finals against Panathinaikos’ junior team. It was a breakout performance from the child prodigy, who reportedly grew up living illegally in Greece his entire life after his mother emigrated from Nigeria. His 20-year-old brother, Thannasis, a 6-foot-7 small forward, also is considered an NBA prospect.

Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti and Houston’s Daryl Morey, among others, also have been to Athens to scout Antetokoumpo, whose contract with Zaragoza is said to contain an affordable buyout clause.

Oh, and he has a 7-3 wingspan.

The Greek and Nigerian basketball federations are both trying to register Antetokoumpo to play for their respective national teams, and Antetokoumpo is expected to participate at the NBA pre-draft Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy.

http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2013/03/27/greek-freak-610-pg-draws-nba-execs-to-athens/

So all you ethnic guys should take it easy...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/-college-basketball-mens-tournament/news/20130319/victor-oladipo/

It starts far away. Victor Oladipo has often been described as the child of Nigerian parents, but only his mother was born in Nigeria. Chris Oladipo will not state his age, but according to public records he is either 61, 63 or 64. He says he was born in the West African nation of Sierra Leone, raised in the rural community of Blama (population 8,146) and educated in the city of Freetown at Albert Academy, a secondary school whose motto is Rather to be than to seem, which Chris says is central to his own life philosophy. Chris says that he came to the U.S. when he was in his teens and earned bachelor's and master's degrees and a Ph.D. in behavioral science at Maryland.
After earning the Ph.D. he took a job that often required travel to Nigeria. It was on a trip to Lagos, then the Nigerian capital, that Chris says he met his future wife, Joan Amanze. The two were engaged and, in 1985, moved to the U.S., where they were married. They lived for a time with Chris's two brothers before moving out in '86 and settling in Upper Marlboro, Md., in '89. They had four children: Kristine, now 27 and a graduate of Temple, with plans to attend dental school; Kendra, a 22-year-old senior at Gallaudet, a university for the hearing-impaired in Washington, D.C.; Victor and his twin, Victoria, a junior at Maryland.


Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/-college-basketball-mens-tournament/news/20130319/victor-oladipo/#ixzz2O4ZJ8W65

Support our Naija athletes taking part in the tournament, who do you think will get to the final 4 ?

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/2013-ncaa-tournament-list-of-nigerian-players/

Akron
Deji Ibitayo

Creighton
Mogboluwaga Oginni

Duke
Rasheed Sulaimon

Georgetown
Moses Ayegba
Stephen Domingo

Florida
Braxton Ogbueze

Harvard
Agunwa Okolie

Illinois
Nnanna Egwu

Iowa State
Melvin Ejim
Nkereuwem Okoro

Indiana
Victor Oladipo

Liberty
Sommy Ogukwe

Long Island University
Jamal Olasewere
Kenny Onyechi

Marquette
Chris Otule

Miami
Tonye Jekiri
Raphael Akpejiori

Michigan
Eso Akunne

Minnesota
Trevor Mbakwe
Maverick Ahanmisi

Missouri
Alex Oriakhi

Pittsburgh
Talib Zanna

VCU
Teddy Okereafor
Justin Tuoyo

Villanova
Daniel Ochefu

Western Kentucky
Kene Ayigbo
O’karo Akamune

Wichita State
Ehimen Orukpe

Victor Oladipo is currently ranked the top Nigerian athlete playing in College see here...http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/rankings/ncaa-male-ranking/

To be honest if we are talking strictly College basketball, I don't think he is the best since Olajuwon, guys like Ike Diogu, Emeka Okafor and Ekpe Udoh to an extent has done slightly better in College. Dont get me wrong, he has the chance to surpass these three players going into March Madness and if he raises his game in the NBA, however, he still needs to work on a lot of things in his game. I personally will say he is the most talented guard we have had ever, he is up there with Andre Iguodala and Kelenna Azubuike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foUZ6hbhcts

really cool site about Naija ball http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/

Rasheed Sulaimon this year and Semilore Ojeleye next year, we need to start tracking these boys now o....they are one of the best players in America right now...

http://teamnigeriabasketball.com/semilore-ojeleye-heading-to-duke/

He was invited to the Nigerian basketball team this year, but declined the invitation as he wanted to get his NBA contract, and it looks like it was the right decision. http://nigerian-basketball..co.uk/2012/08/eric-gets-nba-chance.html

Read the preview here, the guys want to win

http://nigerian-basketball..co.uk/2012/08/olympic-preview-nigeria-v-usa.html

Ike Diogu had this to say "We will not be intimidated by those guys," "A lot of us went to school in the U.S. and have played against those guys. We have no reason to feel overwhelmed."

Tony Skinn said

"I mean, listen, man, I've been playing ball for a long time," said Skinn, who was part of George Mason's improbable Final Four run in 2006. "At some point in time, I played against those guys or seen those guys play. A lot of us, obviously we're Nigerians, but we play in the States and I don't think we have that mentality to just come in the game and just, you know, get our (butts) whooped."

Read the preview here...http://nigerian-basketball..co.uk/2012/07/olympic-preview-nigeria-v-lithuania.html

What are you doing so that your sons and daughters abroad preserve our culture and tradition.....

On the 8th of July 2012, the Nigerian basketball team put their names in the record books as they qualified for the Olympic basketball event for the first time in their history. In addition, with that level of success comes with it a level of criticism. In the past weeks, critics have labelled the Nigerian team as “second rate Americans “ “Americans playing for Nigeria” and even SB Nation editor Tom Ziller wrote the following “Nigeria is a part of the wave of teams who have heavily recruited NCAA and NBA players with ties to the nation. Instead of focusing on homegrown talents, Nigeria and other nations have "recruited" players who never lived in the country or played in their youth teams in international competition”. Even more disheartening is the fact that a minority of Nigerians have also criticized the team stating that majority of the players in the current squad do not speak any Nigerian language, have never been to the country, do not eat the food, and are only Nigerian by name.

With all that said, I think it is only right that we address the issue with the right facts. The first question that we need to ask ourselves is, what or who is a Nigerian? In the context of this article, this is not a simple question when you take into account the continuous exodus of Nigerians from the continent that started in the mid 70’s and continued throughout the 90’s due to political and economical issues. Nigerians now form one of the largest group of people living in Diaspora, it is even said that one out of five Africans is a Nigerian. In America and England especially, Nigerians form one of the largest foreign communities living in that region thanks to the common language and history that they share. It then shouldn’t be a surprise that we now find second and even third generation Nigerians living abroad, examples are sports personalities like Andre Iguodala, Jahlil Okafor and Nneka Ogwumike for the US, and Anthony Joshua, Phillips Idowu and Christine Ohurougu for England.

A rule of survival tells us that when you live in a foreign land, it is only natural that you absorb yourself into the lifestyles and behaviours of the community. This is why most Nigerian kids born in Diaspora often go through conflicts with their parents who had more of a Nigerian upbringing. This issue often ends up in two different results; either accepting the Nigerian culture and carrying on the various traditions such as food, name, family customs etc, or disengaging with the tradition completely, as they feel more comfortable with their present surrounding and are not able to blend the native and foreign culture together , and even going as far as resenting their parents culture seeing it as backwards.

So my question to the critics is; what do you call the group of people that choose to identify with elements of their Nigerian culture and traditions, even though they have never been to Nigeria? Take for example my cousins, they were born and raised in Germany, yet speak the Yoruba language with the highest of diction, even better than some that live in Nigeria today, would you consider them German or Nigerian? I myself was born outside Nigeria and grew up in five different countries including Nigeria, will I still be considered Nigerian, taking into account that you might not think I speak like one.

Back to the current Nigerian basketball team or so called “Nigerian-Americans”, it has been said that only three members of the squad were born in Nigeria, which is correct, those three are Tony Skinn, Ejike Ugboaja and Olumide Oyedeji. With that being said, it should also be noted that Solomon Alabi, Michael Eric and Festus Ezeli, all Nigerian born and raised players were invited to the team but did not accept the invitation because of NBA commitments. Additionally, three members of the current team, Derrick Obasohan, Chamberlain Oguchi and Ekene Ibekwe have all been with the Nigerian team since 2005, that’s seven years ago when they were in their early 20’s. Two other players Ade Dagunuro and Ike Diogu have given interviews recently where they spoke about being brought up in the Nigerian way of life even though they lived in America, Dagunduro who was raised in Inglewood California even stated that he loves pounded yam, drinks gari for breakfast and enjoys his rice and stew. Sounds very “Nigerian” to me.

Going back to 1992, a certain Hakeem Olajuwon who was born and raised in the inner parts of Lagos, and still speaks with a distinct Yoruba accent chose to represent the USA in that year’s Summer Olympic games. I do not recall him being criticized heavily from any part of the media for his decision. Additionally, Great Britain, Portugal and Spain accepted the likes of Tiffany Ofili Porter, Francis Obikwelu and Glory Alozie with open arms even though they have no blood relation to the country or never grew up there.

The point I am trying to make is this, with the growing number of Nigerian-born kids living abroad, we are going to get more and more kids opting to represent the country of their fatherland, and who are we to judge or criticize them if that option is genuinely there. After all, if not for a Nigerian, who took the sacrifice to leave their homeland and make a new one in a foreign land, and sometimes holding two jobs and going to school at the same time, they will not be where they are, or who they are today. I’m sure most Nigerian kids living abroad have gone through enough beatings, attended various Church sermons and stuffed themselves with plenty of jollof rice for them not to be accepted as Nigerian.

For me I think the only issue we should be concerned about is how the infusion of foreign-based players in the basketball team will help develop our local talent (which coincidentally the same issue the Nigerian football team is facing as well). Currently we still have a lot of local talent coming through the ranks, the likes of Talib Zanna, Festus Ezeli, Michael Eric, Chu Maduabum, Maurice Aniefiok, Chris Obekpa and God’s Gift Achiuwa were all born and raised in Nigeria, but are now playing basketball at the highest level in America after being spoted by scouts in local camps. What we really need to do is put more pressure on our Sports Ministry to allocate more funds to the development of our local league, youth teams and sporting facilities. There is just too much talent in Nigerian basketball for us not to be ranked amongst the best in the World.

In conclusion, I don’t know about you but I will be supporting the Nigerian team whether they came from the back streets of Iyana-Ipaja or the suburbs of South-side Chicago, If you cant do it for the players, you need to do it for their parents, who made the sacrifice for their kids. Names like Diogu, Dagunduro, Oludewa, Oguchi, Obasohan, Aminu and Oruche all sound Nigerian to me, and they worked their butt off to put Nigeria back on the sporting map. This is a proud moment, and folks need to realise that the country Nigeria has evolved and its bigger that just the land mass, A certain Nigeria proverbs states, “However far the stream flows, it never forgets its source” It’s time for everyone to embrace the Nigerian basketball team whether your are living in Nigeria or leaving abroad.....

http://nigerian-basketball..co.uk/2012/07/definition-of-nigerian-definition-of.html

With all the current stars !!!!! enjoy

http://nigerian-basketball..co.uk/2012/07/dedication-is-power.html

This guy was one of the best players for the Nigerian team, check out the interview here http://nigerian-basketball..co.uk/2012/07/team-nigeria-interview-adeola-dagunduro.html, a few answers from the interview....

Team Nigeria: You will be representing Nigerian in the London Olympics in a few weeks time, what will be the first thing on your mind when you step on the court?

Ade: The first thing that will step on my mind when representing Nigeria in this Olympic will definitely be a quicker Prayer. My emotions will be running so high I will need to settle down.

Team Nigeria: What is your favourite Nigerian food, and what was the last Nigerian food you ate?

Ade: I actually had Fufu last night made by my Mom, normally I love stew with rice, pounded yam , and plantain or dodo as my Father would call it. I like to eat gari in cereal form for breakfast and chin chin for snacks!