Nneka Ogwumike: FIBA denies her dream of playing with Nigeria in basketball

Nneka Ogwumike: Olympic Dream with Nigeria Fades

The prominent basketball player, Nneka Ogwumike, has seen her desire to represent Nigeria in the Olympic Games thwarted. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rejected her request to compete for the African nation in next year’s World Cup and at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. This is the third time that FIBA has denied Ogwumike’s request to play for Nigeria, the country of origin of her parents. The player has been trying to represent Nigeria since the Tokyo 2021 Games.

After the second attempt, I made peace with it. The third time, I said, let me say I gave it my all. I’m already at a point where I’m very over it. It’s unfortunate, but there are certain things that can’t be controlled.

Nneka Ogwumike

FIBA, in a statement, confirmed the denial of Ogwumike’s request. The first rejection was based on the fact that the player tried to change her affiliation from the United States to Nigeria too close to the start of the Tokyo Olympics. In addition, her appeal for last year’s Paris Games arrived late. FIBA argues that Ogwumike was a key player for the US team in their victories at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. The federation seeks to prevent athletes from playing for more than one absolute national team throughout their careers.

My involvement with the United States is for them, their strongest point, but it doesn’t necessarily make sense for the individual who is being penalized for it. They are going to keep using this excuse over and over again. I’m not going to dwell on it anymore. I tried honestly, so I feel good about it.

Nneka Ogwumike

The United States Basketball team gave its approval for Ogwumike to try to play for Nigeria. The player was not called up for the Tokyo Games due to a knee sprain she suffered in June. Her recovery time would have allowed her to be ready for the Olympic Games. Ogwumike, who averaged 18.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game this season with the Seattle Storm, was not the only American player who was denied the opportunity to play for Nigeria. Elizabeth Williams also tried to play for the African team, but her request was rejected. Ogwumike’s younger sister, Chiney, had her request approved with reservations.

Because Chiney never played on a world championship team, that’s the reason why there are different statuses. I was also told that if I had gotten my passport a little earlier, then my chances would have been better.

Nneka Ogwumike

Ogwumike reported that, when she was younger, USA Basketball advised her not to try to obtain a passport from another country.

That would hurt our chances of playing for the United States. I wasn’t even trying to get it for basketball. I was just trying to get it because my parents are Nigerian. And I’m the first generation born here, so we were scared into not getting passports from other countries where our families were from.

Nneka Ogwumike

Nigeria has become an emerging power in international basketball in recent years. The country made history by reaching the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics before losing to the United States. Ogwumike’s incorporation could have given the team a better chance of advancing even further, something that the 35-year-old former MVP feels harmed her case.

That’s the underlying current of what they weren’t necessarily telling us directly, but we assumed was happening.

Nneka Ogwumike

Ogwumike hopes her fight to represent Nigeria will shed light on the process and “how people decide to choose their nationalities when they want to represent their country.”