Nigeria to host Africa Zone 3 playoffs, NBBF recalls suspended teams

Nigeria will host the 2017 FIBA Africa Zone 3 clubs elimination series, Exrasportsnigeria.com reports. This is the first time Nigeria will be hosting a basketball competition in the last 10 years.

The hosting right of the event which was held in Togo in 2016 was awarded to the Nigeria Basketball Federation by FIBA Africa Zone 3 after it met all the criteria for a prospective host.

The President of the NBBF Musa Kida said it was good for Nigeria to reclaim its place in Africa as the true giant.

He said, “The cost of prosecuting these international competitions by these clubs when they travel out will be at least reduced by 50%. Now, clubs participating in the elimination series will only be worried about internal transportation, accommodations and payment of allowances for their players.”

The event is slated for October 19th to 29th.

The Nigeria federation also on Tuesday decided to lift the indefinite ban imposed on some clubs, referees, coaches and players over allegations of participating in illegal leagues in the 2015 season.

NBBF officials say they lifted the suspension having established that the indefinite ban on the referees, players and three Lagos based clubs who were part of the traditional teams in the Atlantic Conference was not done in good faith by the former board.

Kida said after their fact finding mission and communication with the affected parties, it was established that due process was not followed in clamping down in the teams.

“In view of this, the NBBF decided to reinstate Lagos Islanders, Dodan Warriors and Union Bank in the league system with immediate effect ahead of the 2018 league season.

“We were able to establish that the decisions taken by the former board were not in the overall interest of basketball in Nigeria. It’s a strange practice all over the world where an accused is not summoned to defend his actions.”