Sports Basketball can overtake football as the number one sport in Nigeria - Coach Bakare

Former national team coach of the Men's Basketball team,Ayo Bakare has expressed confidence that the slam and dunk game will one day overtake football as the number one sport in the country.

Bakare coached Nigeria to its first ever appearance at the Olympics,in London 2012 and also to the last African Nations Basketball championship,adding that the game has the tendency to topple football in Nigeria.

“I honestly believe that basketball will soon become the most popular sports in Nigeria. I see it happening sooner than later given the rapid progress that our basketball players are making at the global level," Bakare was quoted as saying on Vanguard Sports.

“Our players are getting better every day in the NBA and in Europe, where the game commands a great followership like football and when they come together to play for Nigeria, they surely will do exploits, which in turn, would make the fans to start getting closer to this game.

“At the global level, we ranked in the top 20 in basketball but the Super Eagles are ranked outside the top 30. D’Tigers defeated teams in the top ten last year and at the Olympics, where we did the country proud even though we did not win any medal. We surely will surpass football “, he added.

rsz_pic____27__basketball_match_between_nigeria_and_france_in_london_-_copy.jpg
 
Back
Top