Alex Nwora, the head coach of D’Tigers, on Monday said the team’s technical crew would this week hold talks with some U.S.-based players, clubs and schools.

He said the talks would centre on how to facilitate players’ release for the national senior male basketball team’s next round of FIBA (Africa) 2019 World Cup qualifiers.

Nwora, who spoke from his U.S. base, said this would help greatly as he was still working on his team list with the other members of the technical crew.

He however expressed optimism that his crew would secure the release of some foreign-based players for the qualifiers.

“I just got back to the U.S. from China yesterday (Sunday) where we went to play some friendlies in readiness for the September window which Nigeria is hosting again,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“I am still working on my list with my team manager, Musa Adamu.

“The team manager will be travelling to the U.S. this week to talk to some players, clubs and schools about the release of their players for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in September.’’

NAN reports that the coach had on July 22 expressed concern over the likely unavailability of some of his foreign-based players for the next round of qualifiers.

“With some players sealing new contracts and some taking part in the NBA Summer League, we have to get stronger as a team and rotate our squad,” he was quoted as saying.

The next window of the World Cup qualifiers is expected to take place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos from Sept. 14 to Sept. 16.

The D’Tigers, who have recorded 100 per cent success so far in the qualifying series, are scheduled to take on Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and the Central African Republic (CAR).

The last round of qualifiers held in June saw Nwora putting out a squad of experienced and young players.

He is expected to deploy similar tactics in September, even though he has said could not confirm for now who would make his team just yet.

“We cannot tell who will be available or not right now,” Nwora said.(NAN)

Jul. 30, 2018 @ 18:45 GMT |