By Tony Ubani reporting from London
The story of Nigeria’s male Basketball team to the Olympics is like that of rising from grass to grace or zero to hero. It is more like the Biblical rejected stone.

Olumide Ayodeji, one of the henchmen who has toiled towards this uncommon transformation of the D’Tigers said that they have moved away from under-dogs to power-house.

The Tigers would confront fellow Africans, Tunisia, who are Africa’s champions in the opening of hostilities on Sunday here in London.

‘’Things have changed. We are no longer the D’Tigers they used to know. They too have confessed at the sudden transformation of the Nigerian team.  We’ll sort things out on the court on Sunday”, the lanky jolly good Basketball player said.

He was not alone. His coach, Sani Ahmed agreed with his player and said that they don’t dwell on titles and would not see Tunisia as African champions when they aim for the basket on Sunday.

‘’We have respect for all the teams here. It is not easy for teams to qualify to be part of the Olympics. We respect them but on the courts, my brother, there is no respect. We are here to make a point and to bring honour to millions of Nigerians”, Ahmed noted.