President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation President (NBBF), Tijjani Umar, has expressed confidence on the chances of the country winning the 2011 FIBA African Championship for Men.
Umar affirmed that it is only a matter of time before the country would be announced as the substantial host of the competition by the continental ruling body, FIBA Africa.
The NBBF boss says the federation has the endorsement of the Nigeria Minister for Sports, Engr. Sani Ndanusa to pursue the bid to its logical conclusion as the federation set machinery in motion to receive FIBA Africa team who are expected in the country to inspect facilities of the country bid city, Abuja.
We have the full support of the Federal Ministry of Sports and the Government of Nigeria to bid for the 2011 Afrobasket for Men. We have prepared well and we have all the facility needed for this level of championship, so we are very optimistic to emerge as the host country for the 2011 event, Umar said confidently.
The NBBF boss who led a four man delegation comprises of the 1st Vice President Mukthar Khaleh who is also a member of the Central Board of FIBA Africa as President of FIBA Africa Zone-III, Tagwai Yusuf and Mustapha Suleiman to formally present the bid document to the Central Board of FIBA Africa last weekend in Cairo, Egypt.
He added that the continental basketball body has set up an inspection committee that would visit the bidding countries soon to inspect facilities on ground.
The inspection team will be led by the Secretary General of the African body Dr. Alphonse Bile and other members of FIBA Africa will be in the country to inspect facilities at the Abuja National Stadium in April this year.
Nigeria is bidding for the 2011 Africa biggest basketball showpiece The Nations Cup which will serve as 2012 London Olympic Games qualifiers alongside, Cote dIvoire and Madagascar.
It will be recalled that Nigeria stepped down for Libya as host of the 16th edition of the competition won by Angola last year
