NBBF kicks as Liz Cambage talks switch to Nigeria from Australia

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has denied a claim it discussed with Liz Cambage, the Australian basketball star, about a potential switch of allegiance to the D’Tigress.

Cambage, born to a Nigerian father and an Australian mother, played for her mother’s country from 2009 till 2021 when she backed out from the team due to mental health issues. She has not played for the Opals since the incident.

In a recent chat with Bleacher Report, the 31-year-old claimed she has been in “cahoots” with some Nigerian officials to finalise her switch to the D’Tigress.

“We are filing for me to leave the Australian team so I can represent Nigeria. I have been in cahoots,” she said.

However, Babatunde Ogunlade, vice president of NBBF, said Cambage’s comment should be disregarded.

The NBBF VP spoke in a chat with Colin Udoh, a journalist, on Tuesday.

Babs Ogunade @nbbfonline Vice President on @ecambage's comments about switching to represent Nigeria pic.twitter.com/ZbdsVORCnv

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— Colin NOT Collins 🇳🇬🇺🇸 (@ColinUdoh) August 8, 2023

“Disregard the news; I do not know who she is talking to. Not me and definitely not Kida (NBBF president),” Ogunlade said.

CAMBAGE’S ‘RACIAL SLUR’ AT D’TIGRESS IN 2021

During a pre-Olympics practice match between Nigeria and Australia in 2021, some members of the D’Tigress squad accused Cambage of racially abusing them.

The Nigerian players claimed Cambage called them slurs like “monkey” and asked them to “return to their third-world country”.

Cambage has, however, denied the allegations on several ocassions.