Young coach Udofia to lead D’Tigers to AfroBasket qualifiers

THE Nigeria Basketball Federation has officially confirmed that coach Mfon Udofia will lead D’Tigers to the 2021 men’s AfroBasket qualifiers in Tunisia.

The qualifiers are scheduled for 19 February to 21 February.

Mfon, who joined the senior men’s national team technical crew just before the 2019 FIBA World Cup, will fill in for head coach Mike Brown, currently busy with NBA team Golden State Warriors.

The NBBF said in a press release on Sunday that coach Alex Nwora will also be missing due to family and personal reasons.

NBBF President Musa Kida said: “Mike Brown is doing his primary job and occupied at this time as the assistant coach with Golden State Warriors.

“Coach Alex is staying back for very personal and intimate reasons which we understand. Our head coach to Tunisia will be Mfon Udofia.”

Kida is confident that Udofia will lead the team to a successful outing in Tunisia, even without the two senior coaches.

“He was with us at the World Cup,” the NBBF President noted. “They are all hands we are very used to. Our General Manager, Musa Adamu, will be there and of course the Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Federation, Babs Ogunade.

“So, we have a rolling belt. We can pick people as they are available which will not stop us from having a good show.”

Udofia, a 31-year-old retired point guard, is currently an assistant coach with Skyhawks in the NBA G League and he is set to become the youngest ever coach to lead D’Tigers to a competition.

Meanwhile, Sportsville Media Communication presented an Award of Excellence to the NBBF President for his continued effort in developing basketball in Nigeria and putting the country on the global map.