AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY
'Sports is our Business'
  • Home
  • NEWS
  • Radio
  • TV

Lawal included in Nigeria's star-studded preliminary squad for AfroBasket 2015

7/26/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Olaseni 'Shane' Lawal (NGR)

ABUJA (AfroBasket 2015) - Nigeria's newly-appointed head coach Will Voigt announced his 26-player preliminary squad on Tuesday in Abuja, and Olaseni 'Shane' Lawal could make his national team debut at AfroBasket 2015.

The 2.08m center is among a list of big names in the Nigerian squad that includes Ike Diogu, Portland Trail Blazers new recruit Al Farouq Aminu and former Los Angeles Clippers forward Ekpe Udoh.


Voigt, who had his first contact with the team over the weekend during their training camp opening, has blended young, veterans, local as well as foreign-based players in a team that will take aim at winning its first-ever continental title at AfroBasket 2015, taking place from 19 to 30 August.

Nigeria, who have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Tunisia, Central African Republic (CAF) and debutants Uganda, are among the frontrunners to win this year's event, which serves as a qualifier tournament for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

With the exceptions of Gani Lawal and Richard Oruche - who got injured in the tournament opener against Mali - the nine leading players who featured for Nigeria two years ago in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, have been invited to battle for places in Voigt's team.

At AfroBasket 2013, Nigeria crashed out in the Quarter-Finals following a nail-biting 64-63 loss against Senegal.

The Nigerians would go on to finish seventh.

A thorough look at Voigt's selections, and it becomes clear that the Western Africans have several options when it comes to their big men. Despite his poor free-throw percentage (50 percent), Lawal looks to be a realistic pick for the American coach.

This past season, Lawal was so good that his performances could not go unnoticed, after he helped his Banco di Sardegna team win three major domestic trophies, including Cup of Italy, Supercup and Lega Basket Serie A title.

The Nigerian-American averaged 9.5 points and 10 rebounds in 47 league games and has just signed a two-year with Spain’s giants FC Barcelona.

Even though Banco di Sardegna finished with a modest 1-9 record in the Euroleague this past season, Lawal made sure to leave his mark in Europe's top club competition, averaging 9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

The D'Tigers are expected to resume their training camp in Paris, France, before traveling to Tunisia.

Nigeria preliminary squad for AfroBasket 2015: Deji Akindele, Akingbala Akinlolu, Al-Farouq Aminu, Alade Aminu, Ike Diogu, Jason Ebie, Chinemelu Elonu, Micheal Eric, Michael Gbinije, Stanley Gumut, Edo Karachi, Olaseni ’Shane’ Lawal, Derrick Obasohan, Chris Obepka, Ikechukwu Ofoegbu, Andy Ogide, Chamberlain Oguchi, Stanley Okoye, Jamal Olasewere, Olumide Oyedeji, Ekpe Udoh, Michael Umeh, Abubakar Usman, Ben Uzoh, Abdul Yahaya and Talib Zanna.

By: FIBA.com
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Menu

    All
    2014 FIFA World Cup
    Athletics
    Basketball
    Boxing
    Commonwealth Games
    Cricket
    Golf
    Hockey
    Marathons
    News
    Olympics
    Rugby
    Soccer
    Spotlight
    Tennis
    Track And Field
    Volleyball
    Women Soccer
    Wrestling


    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Tweets by ASMONTHLY

Tweet to @ASMONTHLY

Contact Us

    Contact Us

Submit

Donate & Support Our Efforts at African Sports Media Network