Africa Qualifiers: Comets depart for Abidjan

The coach Ayo Bakare tutored side left with only ten players and two officials due to financial constraint but was optimistic, as the players selected have vowed not to disappoint the club teeming fans.

Speaking shortly before the final list was made public mid-week, the duo of small forward George Ehiagwina and Dennis Ebikoro says the team is not scared of opposition as playing at that level is not new to the team who was over-all fifth best clubside in Africa two years ago with Ebikoro having his first baptism of continental basketball action that year while Ehiagwina played a vital role in Nigeria U-18 national team conquest of Africa at the 15th Fiba Africa U-18 Championship in Durban, South Africa in July this year.

Notable among those set to prosecute Comets good run in Abidjan are Captain of the Nigeria Senior national to the 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne, Australia, Abdulrahman Mohammed, Comets captain Baba Jibril, youthful point guards Michael Ohiero and Orseer Ikyaator who captained Nigeria U-18 national team to the Durban victory.

Others includes forward Malik Tella, centre Christain Okpala, Okechukwu Anonye and Abel Baraya who was also a member of the Nigeria U-18 national team to Durban making it one of the youngest team in the championship.

The team is accompanied by team coach and proprietor, Bakare and team manager, Ivy Iyasere-Bakare.

Nine out of the ten teams expected for the qualifiers have arrived Abidjan, according to a statement from the Fiba Africa Abidjan Secretariat, on ground for the all important qualifiers are Ivories Africa Sport National and Zenith Basket Club, Nigeria's Ebun Comet basketball club, Liberian NPA Pythons and Invincible Eleven and Ghana's Braves Basket Ball (C.E.P.S.). Others are CBS from Togo, Benin Republic ASPAC basketball club and Back basketball club of Guinea, only Nigeria second representative Plateau Peaks basketball club is still being expected.