The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has replaced D’Tigress of Nigeria with Mali for the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022. FIBA announced the replacement on Tuesday.

“FIBA will announce whether there will be any other decisions related to the NBBF’s participation in other FIBA competitions and any potential disciplinary measures in due course,” noted the global basketball federation.

The FIBA decision came after President Muhammadu Buhari stopped the Nigeria Basketball Federation from participating in international competitions for two years. 

D’tigress afterwards released a statement appealing to Mr Buhari’s regime to allow the female basketball team to participate in the world cup.

In a letter directed to the federation’s presidency about the ban, the FIBA stated that the decision to withdraw Nigeria from international completion for two years would attract further consequences. 

The body stated that the withdrawal of Nigeria from the world cup would mean the team will not participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic qualification process and the FIBA AfroBasket 2025.

FIBA statement

MIES (Switzerland) – FIBA was informed about the decision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to withdraw the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) from all international basketball competitions and activities for a period of two years.

In subsequent communications with the NBBF, and despite FIBA’s request, it has become clear that against the circumstances created by the government’s decision, the NBBF is unable to confirm its participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022.

Given the multiple strict deadlines that cannot be postponed in order to ensure the successful staging of a major international event (visa procedures, schedules, ticket sales, accommodations, friendly games, preliminary rosters, flight tickets, accreditations, etc.) and to protect the integrity of the competition, the FIBA Executive Committee has decided as follows:

• Nigeria’s withdrawal from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 is confirmed
• Mali, as the next ranked team from Group B of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, is invited to participate in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022

FIBA will announce whether there will be any other decisions related to the NBBF’s participation in other FIBA competitions and any potential disciplinary measures in due course.