CAS rejects Ogwumike, Williams’ bid to represent Nigeria in Tokyo

Nneka Ogwumike and Elizabeth Williams will have to wait another three years before actualising their dream of changing their international allegiance to Nigeria, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has ruled.

The two Nigerians, who had already played for the United States, applied to the world basketball governing body, FIBA, to change their allegiance to their motherland beginning with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which begins on Friday.

They were in Nigeria’s provisional squad for Tokyo 2020, but were omitted from the final 12-man squad announced by Coach Otis Hughley announced on Monday.

According to insidethegames.biz, the duo played for the United States during the qualifiers to the Olympics before not deciding to switch to Nigeria.

Both have Nigerian passports but players are not usually allowed to switch international allegiances after they turn 17. They, however, requested an ‘exceptional change’ to their national status under an International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rule, which permits switches if it is in the interest of developing the sport.

The 30-year-old power forward Ogwumike plays for Los Angeles Sparks, while 28-year-old centre Williams plays for Atlanta Dream. Ogwumike, the WNBA champion and MVP in 2016, has won two World Cups and a Summer Universiade title with the US. Williams has three gold medals with the US from youth World Championships.

Chiney Ogwumike, Nneka’s sister who is also a power forward for the Sparks, has been made eligible for the Nigerian team. The 29-year-old was accepted as a “naturalised citizen” of Nigeria but this status was also challenged at CAS.

This is because only one naturalised citizen is allowed per squad, with the trio claiming they are all Nigerian citizens through birth because of their parents. Third sister Erica Ogwumike, a WNBA 2020 draftee, is also eligible to play.

“FIBA acknowledges today’s decision of the Court Arbitration of Sport to reject the request for provisional measures filed by Nnemkadi Chinwe Ogwumike and Elizabeth Olatayo Williams,” a FIBA statement said.

“The players had requested that the CAS provisionally accepts the change of their national status from USA to Nigeria.

“Although both players had played for USA after the age of 17 and participated in the qualifying process to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (in February 2020 and September 2019, respectively), they recently requested an exceptional change of their national status, which FIBA declined under the applicable rules.

“In any event, the players would have to wait for a three-year period since their last game with the USA to be eligible to play at the Olympics, as per bye-law to Rule 41 of the Olympic Charter.

“The list of players for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games submitted by the Nigeria Basketball Federation to the Nigeria Olympic Committee and to FIBA does not include these two players.”

The Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) had claimed that “players of African descent are approved to play for other countries constantly but the reverse is not the case”.

“We do tacitly believe that there are undercurrents and motivation for such a decision which is repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience,” the world governing body said. Coincidentally, Nigeria’s first match at Tokyo 2020 is due to be against the U.S. on July 27. Hosts Japan and France are the other teams in their group