‘Nobody is afraid of FIBA’, Scott Nnaji reacts to threats to ban NBBF

Crisis must be resolved before any election – NOC The President of the Nigeria Basketball Coaches Association, Scott Nnaji, has played down the threat of an imminent ban by the world basketball federation (FIBA), over the federal government’s intervention in the affairs of Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF. The Customs Service Basketball Club’s coach said this […]

• Crisis must be resolved before any election – NOC

The President of the Nigeria Basketball Coaches Association, Scott Nnaji, has played down the threat of an imminent ban by the world basketball federation (FIBA), over the federal government’s intervention in the affairs of Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF.

The Customs Service Basketball Club’s coach said this while speaking with journalists at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja where the final 8 of the Men’s Premier Basketball League competition is holding. However, Nnaji who had coached the Nigeria women’s national basketball team said: “Let’s forget about that talk, nobody is afraid of FIBA. They are part of those that put us in this deep shit.”

He said one would have called the government’s intervention an ‘interference’ if there was a working constitution, adding that what is being brandished by one of the groups is not a constitution.

“Somebody just made up his constitution, made up rules, made up how he is going to come back, made up everything by himself without those stakeholders in place,” he said while referring to the constitution designed by the Musa Kida-led board of NBBF.

He, however, allayed the fear of an imminent ban, saying the secretary of the federation is in constant contact with FIBA.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) says the lingering leadership crisis in NBBF must be resolved before any election can be held.

This was contained in a letter dated November 11, 2021, and signed by its secretary-general, Banji Oladapo and addressed to FIBA’s president and secretary-general.

“It is quite obvious that right now, the Nigerian Basketball family appears to be divided, with various stakeholder groups having their own opinion, especially with regards to the election of new leadership for the federation,’ wrote the NOC and wants FIBA to send a delegation to Nigeria to interact with stakeholders with a view to resolving the crisis.

‘The Nigeria Olympic Committee is recommending for FIBA to send a delegation to visit Nigeria and interact with the relevant stakeholders of Nigeria Basketball Federation,’ NOC advised.

FIBA, in its November 2, 2021 letter addressed to Musa Kida, the immediate past NBBF president insists the elective congress of the federation must hold not later than November 30, 2021, but the NOC believes the international governing body for basketball needs to meet all relevant stakeholders before any election can hold.