BASKETBALL: Nwora threatens to sue Cameroon over match-fixing allegation

Coach of Nigeria men’s basketball team, Alex Nwora, has threatened to sue the Cameroonian basketball federation, FECABasket, if it brings to light again the allegation of match fixing.

Nwora’s D’Tigress had gone nine games unbeaten in the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers before falling to a disappointing defeat to Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan last week.

The hosts, who went on to win their remaining two matches to seal qualification for the finals alongside Nigeria and Senegal in Group F, denying Cameroon qualification in Group E.

But according to information, FECABASKET and Cameroonians allegedly blamed D’Tigers for wilfully losing to Côte d’Ivoire to aide their qualification.

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Nwora said such careless statement borne out of frustration capable of bringing the sport into disrepute should not be taken lightly by FIBA.

“If such is coming from Cameroon that is hypocrisy. Instead of employing average coaches, they should have gone for the best. They have a very good coach who I know very well, he is one of the best coaches and I learn most of the stuff from him,” the US-based coach told NBBF media.

“I wanted to go undefeated, make history for my country. Do you how much Nigeria has for Cameroon to insinuate that we came here to sell a game? How much are they going to pay us? Who will pay us to sell a game?

“These (D’Tigress) are professional players who make money. If they want to do something right, they should not blame their stupidity on these kids and Nigeria because these guys are professional.”

He added: “If anybody is trying to question my integrity, my country and the people that I represent, that is an insult and this is the last time I want to hear that. If my name comes in, I will sue Cameroon or whoever does that.”

The FIBA World Cup is billed to hold from August through September this year in China.

 

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