Seattle Storm forward, Nneka Ogwumike, has come to terms with the reality that she will never play for Nigeria at the Olympics.
The 35-year-old WNBA star, whose parents are both Nigerian, had her third and final appeal to represent Nigeria rejected by FIBA, the international basketball federation.
Ogwumike told the Associated Press in a phone interview, “After the second time trying to appeal, I made my peace with it. The third time, I was like, let me say I gave it my all. I’m very much over it.”
She added, “It’s unfortunate, but there are just certain things you can’t control.”
FIBA’s Rationale for the Denial
FIBA confirmed to AP that Ogwumike’s application was denied. The governing body stated her initial request was filed too close to the start of the Tokyo Olympics, while her second came after the eligibility deadline.
FIBA also cited her major role in Team USA’s World Cup victories in 2014 and 2018, stating that it discourages players from representing more than one senior national team during their careers.
Ogwumike expressed frustration with the decision, stating, “My involvement with the USA is for them, their strongest point, but it doesn’t necessarily make sense that it does to the individual who’s being penalised for it.”
Similar Cases and Context
Ogwumike wasn’t alone in the quest to represent Nigeria. Elizabeth Williams also had her request denied, while Ogwumike’s younger sister, Chiney, was cleared to play with certain conditions since she never appeared in a World Cup.
The forward also noted that she had been discouraged from obtaining a second passport in her youth, which might have influenced her current situation.
She said, “They also told me that if I had gotten my passport a little earlier, then my chances would have been better.”
Nigeria’s Rising Basketball Profile
Nigeria’s women’s basketball team has been one of the fastest-rising sides in the international game. The D’Tigress made history by becoming the first African team to reach the Olympic quarterfinals at the Paris Games, before falling to the United States.
Many believed that with Ogwumike in the squad, Nigeria could have gone even further, a notion she feels may have quietly influenced FIBA’s decision.
“That’s kind of the undercurrent of what they weren’t necessarily saying directly to us, but we assumed was happening,” she said.
Looking Ahead
Despite her disappointment, Ogwumike hopes her experience sparks conversations about nationality rules and the fairness of international eligibility policies.
“I hope my situation helps people understand the process and how people decide to pick their nationalities when they want to represent their country,” she added.
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