Pillars get tough FIBA Champions Cup draw
Nigeria champions Kano Pillars were on Sunday drawn in Group B along with AS Sale of Morocco, ES Rades of Tunisia, Interclube of Angola, New Generation of DR Congo and City Oilers of Uganda at the 2017 FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup which begins in Tunisia on Monday.
Nigeria’s second representatives at the competition Gombe Bulls are in Group A along with Algeria’s GS Petroliers, Ferrovairio of Mozambique, US Monastir of Tunisia, ASB Mazembe of DR Congo and Sporting Libolo of Angola.
Defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt failed to qualify for the competition.
Pillars and Gombe secured the tickets for the competition after placing first and second in the FIBA Zone 3 qualifiers in Lagos in November.
Pillars have won bronze twice while they finished fourth in the 2016 edition in Egypt. No Nigerian club have won the competition with the best outing for the country being a third-place finish on three occasions.
Meanwhile, Pillars coach Sani Ahmed has said the team will aim to win the tournament.
“It will be very tough but we are prepared to return with the trophy and create a record,” Ahmed told our correspondent on the telephone on Saturday.
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