Race for 2021 FIBA Afrobasket qualification not over- Kida

The Nigeria Basketball Federation has announced that the race for a place in the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket is not yet over as Nigerians continue to shower accolades on D’Tigers and the federation after a perfect start in Rwanda.

With conflicting media reports over the team’s qualification, the federation said despite D’Tigers’ perfect start; it is too early to boast of punching the ticket with 3 more matches to play during the Third Window.

The NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida while reacting to media reports said the team is a work in progress under a new coach, Mike Brown who has shown his commitment to the project.

“The results you are seeing is the manifestation of weeks of brainstorming, planning, scouting, camping and financial commitment by the federation. Despite the huge margins against South Sudan, Rwanda and Mali, those wins never came easy.”

“A South Sudan that many could have easily taken for granted as a debutant in this round who had to replace Algeria who withdrew from the qualification race shocked Mali and Rwanda in their backyard”.

“We are still looking for individuals and corporate organizations to key into what we are doing as a federation in the area of sponsorships and endorsement to boost our finances because the Federal Government cannot do it all”, Kida continued.

He reiterated his full commitment to turn the team into a global brand that Nigerians and the continent of Africa will be proud of.

“As a federation, we are not in competition with anybody. We are in competition with ourselves as a board as we have set out short, medium and long term goals if well supported by all stakeholders will turn Nigerian basketball into a brand.”

“We will continue to take those steady steps in our quest to turn around the fortunes of basketball in line with our promise when we came on board in 2017”,  Kida assured.

He thanked Nigerians home and abroad for their support and goodwill messages during the qualifiers which were well received by the players.
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Our elite field good for a World Athletics Gold Label” says Alli

Though the number of runners that will participate at the 2021 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has been pegged at 10,000 instead of the over 100,000 that normally grace Africa’s biggest one-day event due to Covid-19, the event is still attracting much buzz.

Equally, despite the 10,000km race been suspended for this edition and the cream de la cream of global entertainers may not grace the finish point at the luxurious Eko Atlantic City in large numbers, the 2021 edition of the Lagos race may turn out to be the best in the series and even earn the race the prestigious World Athletics Gold Label.

In a statement signed by Olukayode Thomas Head Communications and Media, he said the race General Manager Yussuf Alli has signed quality elite runners for the 2021 race.

According to World Athletics regulations, top races in the world must draw their elite field from the top 300 runners in the world who are gold, silver, and bronze label runners.

For 2021 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Thomas revealed that Alli has signed on only gold label runners.

“A lot of runners from different parts of the world are showing interest in our race but for the 2021 edition any male runner that has not run inside 2hrs.10 mins will not be part of our elite field. As of today, the only male runners that I have shortlisted for the 2021 race are 2hrs.04 mins runners, 2hrs.05mins, and 2hrs. 06 mins for the female field we have runners who done between 2hrs 23mins and 2hrs. 27 mins, any female that has not run inside 2.30 mins in a recent race will not be part of our elite field.”  

Alli said only top races in the world like the New York Marathon, Dubai Marathon, Paris Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, London Marathon, and a few other races boast of such a world-class elite field.

Alli is optimistic that quality elite field could earn the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon a gold label before the 2022 race, “Once we agreed on a few grey in the next couple of days, we shall reveal their names but it’s a very strong field.” Alli assured.

It will be recalled that Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is one of the few marathons in the world to get the prestigious World Athletics bronze and silver label in record time.