The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has invited Serah Ogoke as replacement for Point Guard Upe Atosu who was not released by her school for D’Tigress 2020 Olympics Qualifying Tournament (OQT) holding in Belgrade Serbia next month.
D’Tigress will play Mozambique, host Serbia and Olympics defending champions and World champions USA, in the Olympics Qualifying Tournament from February 6-9 in Belgrade. Three teams will qualify from this group with the fourth placed team crashing out.
D’Tigress will open their camp on February 01, 2020 with all invited players expected in camp on February 02, 2020, when the team will have its first full training.
Upe Atosu, who is currently studying and playing for Butler University in the United States of America, the NBBF disclosed on Monday in Lagos, would be unavoidably absent.
Babs Ogunade, the federation Vice President, who confirmed this also added that Atonye Ngifa and Victoria Macaulay have earlier been called up to increase the number of players to 14.
The Nigerian team, who are African champions, will open their camp at the Hotel Inn in Belgrade before moving to Crowele Hotel, the FIBA Hotel for all the four teams.
Ogunade confirmed that plans have been concluded for the team to have a seamless camping on the premise that the Olympics Qualifying Tournament would not be a walk in the park.
To ensure a seamless tournament, the federation has contacted a Serbia coach, Licic Lale, who coached the senior national team in the 1970s.
“He promised to get a good hotel that will be close to FIBA Hotel so that relocating to the FIBA on February 04, 2020, will not be a problem,” Ogunade said on Monday.
