The U-16 National basketball team Thursday night departed for Cape Verde for the 2019 FIBA U-16 African Championship holding in that country’s capital city, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

The team sponsored will be participating in the competition which will be held in Praia (Capital City of CapeVerde) between July 2 – 14.

Topping the list is Dickson Kuti (Gen. Murtala Mohammed College, Yola), Isah Faruk and Usman Aminu both from Father O’Connel College, Minna while the duo of Okpara Ebuka Emmanuel and Okpe Precious were selected from Brilliant College, Port Harcourt.

Others include Ighovodji Joy (Victoroti Private Sec Sch, Abeokuta), Okomire Ethuke (Epie National High School, Yenagoa), Esuola David (Western Col, Yaba), Mumini Momoh (Kings Intl Col, Ibadan), Reuben Chinyelu (Raptors Academy) as well as Dennis Victor (Belary Schools, Yenagoa)

Umeh Gloria Nwamaka and duo of Okoro Ifunanya and Iornumbe Regina from First Bank of Lagos complete the list of players invited to camp. Acha and Jacqueline will be assisted by Okoh Christopher and Faustinus- Akhere Juliana Ojoshogo respectively.

10 players were invited from the schools that participated in the 2019 MiloBballNG Championship with a Raptor Academy player by head coach, Fubara Onyenabo. Nigeria will be hoping to better its 5th placed finish when it last qualified for the competition in 2015.

Meanwhile, the Women’s team to be coached by Niagwan Jacqueline will include Abel Marvelous Chizi (MFM Basketball Club), Musa Murjanatu (Air Warriors of Abuja), Anaswem Jossett (Customs) and Mac -Dangosu Theresa of FCT Angels.

Akintunde Akin Moses, Agu Ibe Abuchi (Gombe State Bulls), Iduh John Mathias (Gombe State Bulls and Ogunsemore Babajide Micheal complete the list of eight players invited to fight for the four available jerseys. The team will camp at Bolingo Hotel, Abuja.

The basketball team to the 2019 African Games in Morroco will commence camping on July 5, 2019 Yahaya Abdul (Rivers Hoopers), David Godwin, Dike Azuoma and Okoh Lucky Subel both of Kano Pillars have all been invited by the 3×3 National Team head coach, Acha Chris Ikwue.

The country’s best placed finish was in 2009 when the team won a bronze medal at the inaugural edition. The championship serves as qualifiers for the 2020 FIBA U-17 World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria.