With four days to the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, three Nigerians – Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike, and Elizabeth Williams who play in WNBA are waiting for a response over the appeal they lodged with the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) and the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS).
The three women who are regarded as standouts in the WNBA were denied places in the United States women’s basketball team for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Before now, Nneka had also been denied a place in the USA roster for the 2016 Olympics, the same year she was named the WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP).
However, the Ogwumikes and Williams have decided to petition to be allowed to represent Nigeria at the Tokyo Games, because they have Nigerian-born parents, which automatically grants them the right as Nigerian citizens by descent. As it stands, only Chiney has been given the nod to compete as a naturalized citizen.
According to reports, Williams and Nneka were denied because of their “significant involvement” for more than 10 years with USA Basketball.
FIBA rules state that athletes can not change their national team after the age of 17, but, under FIBA regulations, an exception can be made for players wishing to change national teams if it is in the interest of developing the sport of basketball. The group filed a last-ditch appeal to CAS on 26th July 2021, which argues their participation on the Nigerian team would improve the team’s performance and increase the prominence of the sport.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s final roster for the Tokyo Olympics was expected to be announced after the D’Tigress exhibition game against Team USA which they lost by 62 – 93 on Monday. Presently, the only hope left for Williams and Nneka is to anticipate that CAS will issue a provisional approval for them to play for Nigeria until an official ruling can be made.
This would allow the three players to join the Nigerian team unless CAS rules otherwise.
Nigeria’s opening Group B game at the Olympics is against the United States on 27th July 2021.
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