Nneka Ogwumike: FIBA denies WNBA star from playing with Nigeria

Nneka Ogwumike: Olympic Dream with Nigeria Fades

Nneka Ogwumike’s yearning to represent Nigeria in the Olympic Games has come to an end. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rejected her request to play with the African team in next year’s World Cup and in 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 had been trying to obtain approval since the Tokyo 2021 Games.

After the second attempt, I made peace with it. The third time, it was like, let me say I gave it my all. I’m already at a point where I’m well above that. It’s unfortunate, but there are certain things you can’t control.

Nneka Ogwumike

FIBA, in a statement, confirmed the denial of Ogwumike’s request. Her first request was rejected because FIBA considered that she tried to switch from the United States national team to Nigeria too close to the start of the Tokyo Olympics. The governing body also argued that her appeal to play in last year’s Paris Games came too late and that Ogwumike had been an important part of the United States national team in their victories at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. FIBA seeks to discourage athletes from playing for more than one senior national team in 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 that.

Nneka Ogwumike

The United States basketball team gave its approval for Ogwumike to try to play for Nigeria. She was not included in the US team for the Tokyo Games despite being one of the best players in the WNBA due to a knee sprain she suffered in June. Her recovery time would have allowed her to be back 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 Nigeria, but was also 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 revealed that, when she was younger, the United States basketball team advised her not to try to obtain a passport from another country. It would damage 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 not to get passports from other countries where our families were from. Nigeria has established itself as one of the emerging teams internationally in recent years. The country became the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games in Paris before losing to the United States. The incorporation of Ogwumike 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 didn’t necessarily tell us directly, but we assumed was happening.

Nneka Ogwumike

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