Nigerian Government Announces Self-Imposed Two-Year Ban On Basketball

The Ministry of Youth and Sports says President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the country's immediate withdrawal from all international basketball competitions for two years. <br />The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, says the withdrawal of Nigeria was to provide the government with the opportunity to revamp the sport from the grassroots as well as revive the domestic leagues which have become moribund. <br />He says the withdrawal would also allow for the setting up of an Interim Management Committee to oversee the management and development of the domestic Basketball Leagues in Nigeria and to further address other related issues around the advancement of the game in the country.