The world basketball governing body, FIBA’s three-man fact-finding team on Wednesday concluded its mission to the country.
The team comprise Alphonse Bile, FIBA Executive Director, Africa; Lubomir Kotleba, Special Adviser to Secretary-General and Fode Amara, Competition Commission member.
Bile told journalists in Lagos at the conclusion of its meeting with the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, that he was glad that they visited and spoke with all the parties involved.
“I want to plead that Nigerians should be patient and await the decision of FIBA at the next central board meeting on March 10, 2017. I assure that FIBA would take a decision in the best interest of all the parties involved in the dispute. However, I am of the opinion that Nigeria has the potentials to compete favourably at the top level if they cooperate.
“Our job is to meet all the parties involved in the crisis and send all the facts we gathered to the FIBA Central Board that will then take a decision on the matter in March,” he said.
FIBA had written to the NBBF in December 2017, of its intention to send a high-power delegation to the country, to help determine the authentic leadership of the federation.
The federation had been rocked with a leadership tussle between Musa Kida and Tijani Umar-led factions after election in June 2017. The Sports Ministry and the NOC alleged that Tijani Umar did not follow the guidelines for the election. Following the crisis, FIBA said it would not recognize any election, but would communicate with the Musa Kida-led board for the sake of the sport in the country.
Ashaolu Oluwafemi
Discussion about this post