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The Nigeria Basketball Federation wishes to clarify the circumstances surrounding the late adjustments to the D’Tigress roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, which begins today in Berlin.
Five players named in the extended squad will not be able to participate. The reasons are separate and independent and none of them concern form, suitability, conduct or selection.
Guard Ifunanya Okoro was unable to travel with the delegation after her entry visa was not issued within the tournament’s travel window, despite documentation being filed through the appropriate channels.
Gabby White, Uche Izoje and Favor Nwaedozi each returned to their universities when the academic session resumed, in line with academic commitments falling directly during the tournament window.
The Federation places great value on its relationships with collegiate institutions that develop Nigerian talent and we respect the academic obligations that our players bring with them alongside their national service. We are grateful to each of these athletes for their time in training camp and expect to see all three of them back in green and white.
Guard Shay Ijiwoye was named to the roster submitted to FIBA, but her eligibility documentation was not completed before the registration deadline and she could not be cleared to play. Shay is in Berlin with the delegation, remains a valued member of this program and will continue to support the team during the tournament.
On one point the Federation wants to be unequivocal: no player has been excluded, sanctioned or set aside. Every athlete named to our preliminary roster has earned that place and the Federation’s confidence in each of them has not diminished.
The general manager of the women’s national team, Musa Adamu, said:
“These were separate situations that came within days of each other, and the burden fell entirely on the players who had done everything they were asked to do. The outcome of Ifunanya’s visa was not in our control. Gabby, Uche and Favor had academic obligations that no athlete should be asked to choose against, and we would not ask them to do so.
Shay’s file wasn’t closed in time, and she deserves better than to see it reduced to a rumor: she’s here in Berlin, she’s part of this team and she’ll be back on the pitch for Nigeria.
“We will also not pretend that documentation and consular deadlines are someone else’s problem. They are ours to handle and I have called for a complete overhaul of our registration and travel process, which we will bring to FIBA and our partners so that no Nigerian athlete misses a World Cup by a deadline again.
“Coach Wakama has twelve qualified players and they are the reigning African champions. Our focus as of this morning is the Republic of Korea.”
Nigeria open their campaign against Republic of Korea at the Berlin Arena today, before facing Hungary and France in Group B.
– Media Department, Nigeria Basketball Federation
