Rio Paralympics qualifiers: Nigeria’s female team for semi against S’ Africa
...As ex-Ogun Commissioner, Olopade, becomes VP world wheelchair basketball body
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ALGERIA: NIGERIA’S female team at the ongoing Africa Wheelchair Basketball qualifiers in Algiers has qualified for the semi-final where the stage is set for the players to meet their South African counterparts.
The victory over Morocco and South Africa in a round robin to set the stage for the semi final clash came at the time the President of the Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation (NWBF), Bukola Olopade was elected as the Vice President of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation Africa.
“We are already at the semi final stage,” Olopade, a former Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Ogun State who led the team to Algeria, told GatewayMail in an interview. “The girls will be playing the South African girls tomorrow (Friday) for a place in the final en route the 2016 Rio Paralympics Games.”
He added: “Unfortunately the men could not make it, but the women are through to the semis to be played tomorrow. I have always said my confidence level for the women was high. I am, however, very impressed with the improvement from the men.”
The ex-commissioner, who hosted the National Sports Festival during his tenure, said that victory at the contest would pave the way for the team to participate in the Paralympics Games to be held in Brazil.
The NWBF president, who commended the various sponsors of the team, expressed joy over his election as the vice president of the continent wheelchair basketball body.
He said: “I am here in Algeria as the President of the Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation, I, however, won the election into the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation Africa as vice president.”
Olopade also said: “We are very grateful to our Grand Patron, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei and his friends who have in the last four years given us over N200 million towards the development of the sports. We also appreciate people like Senator Olamilekan Adeola, a.k.a Yayi for his support.”
Senator Adeola has, however, wished the female team success at the championship.
”Here is wishing the team success in lifting Nigerian’s name by qualifying for the Rio Olympics,” Adeola, who represents Lagos West Senatorial District and donated N1 million to the team, said on his facebook.
The male team had crashed out of the competition after it lost to Algeria by 75 points to 40 in their third game at the championship, it was learnt.
