President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali is confident the presence of Cuban Greco Roman coach, Angel Pineda in Team Nigeria’s camp ahead of the African wrestling championships in Tunisia would rob off positively on the team. Igali in an interview he granted the media in Yenagoa said the coach was drafted in to help put the Nigerian wrestlers in good shape ahead of the Tunisia outing. In Igali’s words…”Pineda is a very top performance coach. We want him to prepare not just our athletes but also our coaches. His array of knowledge is something our coaches can learn from. Our goal is to retain our African title and to compete favorably in both free style and Greco Roman wrestling. As African champions, we need to keep up the momentum.” The Cuban coach on his part said he is enjoying his stay in Yenagoa describing Bayelsa as home.

Basketball: FIBA takes Olympic pre-qualifying tournament to Lagos

World basketball governing body, FIBA has named Lagos as one of the host cities of basketball Olympic pre-qualifying tournaments billed for August. The decision was taken at FIBA Central Board meeting yesterday. The Pre-Qualifying Tournaments give 40 countries that did not make it to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 hope of still reaching the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. By winning a Pre-Qualifying Tournament, a country would then take part in one of next year’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, with the winners of those clinching spots in Paris. The tournaments will be played in the following locations:

Africa • Group Phase and Final Phase: Lagos, Nigeria

Americas • Group Phase and Final Phase: Argentina (city to be confirmed)

Europe • 1st tournament, Group Phase and Final Phase: Istanbul, Turkey • 2nd tournament: Poland and Estonia Group Phase: Gliwice (POL) and Tallinn (EST) Final Phase: Gliwice (POL) Asia • The host of the tournament in Asia will be confirmed at a later date.

Participating Teams and Draw Principles

For Africa, Americas and Asia, the Draw Principles will be the same. The participating teams have been distributed in four pots based on the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike. By the draw, the teams from each pot will be distributed in two groups and at the same time each will be assigned a competition number. For Europe, the participating teams have been distributed in eight pots based on the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike. By the draw, the teams from each pot will be distributed in four groups and at the same time they will be assigned the competition numbers. Groups A & B and Groups C & D are crossing to qualify the best team for the next year’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. Pots 1, 4, 5 and 8 are feeding groups A and B. Those groups will play in Poland and Estonia. Group Phase Hosts Poland and Estonia will play at home and cannot be drawn in the same group. Pots 2, 3, 6 and 7 are feeding groups C and D. Those groups will play in Turkey.