For the third consecutive time, the international Basketball Federation (FIBA) has rejected Nneka Ogwumike’s request to switch her national team allegiance from the United States to Nigeria.
Ogwumike, a former WNBA MVP and one of the most accomplished players in women’s basketball, has been seeking to represent D’Tigress, Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team since Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.
She made similar attempts to compete for Nigeria at both the 2023 FIBA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games, but all efforts have been turned down by FIBA.
This third time rejection effectively ends her hopes of representing Nigeria at next year’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, despite her strong personal and family ties to the country.
According to reports, one of the key reasons behind FIBA’s decision in Ogwumike’s prior participation with Team USA 2014 and 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cups, while she hoped to see the Ogwumike sisters – Nneka, Chimney, and Erica – unite under the Nigerian flag.
-9News Nigeria.
