Lagos Islanders withdraw from African Cup

Nigeria’s second representatives to the 24th FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Men, Lagos Islanders have fallen out of the competition without even taking a shot.

Islanders, the runners up of the Nigerian domestic league in the closed season, confirmed on Thursday that they could not make the first stage trip to neighbouring Republic of Benin.

Nigeria's Aloysius Anagonye (L) dunks the ball beside Venezuela's Victor Diaz (C) and Nigeria's Gabe Muoneke during their match at the world basketball championships in Sendai August 20, 2006. (Reuters)

“We have just held a meeting with the club owner (Mr Damoye) and he has told the players we won’t travel to Benin,” Ogo Daudu, the head coach told FIBA.COM at the National Stadium in Lagos.

Poor cash flow was fingered as the reason for the decision to stay away from the continent’s competition for the various countries leagues champions. It was gathered that the club management was actually worried about making the trip to Kigali, Rwanda if they qualified from the Zone 3 qualifiers in Benin. The FIBA Zone 3 qualifiers began by the weekend for the African final play off in Rwanda from December 11 to 20, 2009.

The decision of the Islanders owner to keep mute over the team’s finances until the zero hour has irked a lot of people in the Nigerian basketball circle as he is seen to have denied the next team the chance to play on the continent.  “I am very sure that Dodan Warriors would have taken the chance if they got the information on time.”