Nigeria coach Ayo Bakare is confident that his side can overcome the tag of underdogs and qualify for the London 2012 Olympics.
Speaking at Nigeria’s training camp in the capital Lagos, coach Bakare was in positive spirits despite being outsiders in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament on July 2nd-8th in Caracas, Venezuela.
They will housed in Group B alongside favourites Lithuania and the hosts Venezuela. If they qualify, this will be the African nation’s first ever Olympic Games. They have made two previous appearances in the world championships including a credible 14th place in 2006.
“If fund permit us to run our programme at full cause I have no doubt that Nigeria will be among the 12 finalists at the basketball event of the London 2012 Olympic Games,” Bakare said.
Nigeria finished third at the 2011 Afrobasket behind Angola and winners Tunisia, who have qualified for the Games.
Coach Bakare had 14 home-based players for a three-day training camp in Lagos and was impressed with what he saw as preparations began for the Olympic Qualifiers and the veteran coach has big plans for the future.
“I can beat my chest and say confidently that Nigeria will rule the Africa scene from the next Afrobasket whether I’m in charge, I say this because of the goal laid down which will make easy for any coach to follow and improve on,” he added.
Nigerian basketball will soon enter a new era with the the partership of TV station DStv (Supersport) into the country’s basketball league, signalling major improvement.
