Afrobasket 2011: Nigeria Popoola 19 other refs make FIBA Africa list

Nigeria FIBA graded referee Babatunde Popoola has been listed by Africa basketball ruling body FIBA Africa alonghside 19 other international referees for the 26th edition of the FIBA Africa Championship for Men (African Cup of Nations) holding in Antananarivo, Madagascar from August 17 through 28.

Of the twenty referees listed for the 2011 Afrobasket fifteen are accompany referees while five are neutral referees.

Popoola was listed as the Nigeria senior national team, DTigers accompanying referee, other accompany referees listed for the biggest Africa basketball show-piece are; Anthony Razafindrakoto of Madagascar; Julio Carlos Angola; Ben Ali Cisse Cote DIvoire; Arnaud Kom Njilo Cameroon; Steve Koukou-Te-Ngbandi Central Africa; Ahmed Medhat El-Falaky Egypt; Chlif Abdelliah Morocco; Moussa Toure Mali; Abreu Muhimua Mozambique; Didier Shema-Maboko Rwanda; Antonn Gomm Stacy - South Africa; Alioune Fall Senegal; Nourou Djeri Togo and Haykel Ksontini of Tunisia.

The five neutral referees which includes two European and three from Africa are Anastasios Piloidis from Greece; Matej Boltauzer from Slovenia; Vitalis Gode from Kenya; Leslie Cherubin from Mauritius and Nachid Messaoudi from Algeria complete the list.

Four match commissioners will be on duty for the championship which will produce Africa sole representative to the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Match Commissioners includes the Head of FIBA Africa Technical Commission Raouf Menjour of Tunisia; FIBA Africa Head of Competition Amara Conde Fod of Guinea President of FIBA Africa Zone-6 Anibal Manave from Mozambique and Alain Ramanarivo from Madagascar.

One of the continent brightest match commissioner and instructor Joseph Amon of Cote DIvoire will act as the referees supervisor during the championship, FIBA Africa Secretariat head of technical department Julien Farran is the championship technical delegate from the Secretariat, Dr. Aboukacar Gueye is the head of medical corp while Arnaud Sevaux is the statistician supervisor.

A pre-competition clinic for all the Referees and Match Commissioners of the competition will be held on 16th August 2011 in Antananarivo Madagascar. The official FIBA physical Fitness test will also be held during the clinic as the referees and match commissioners are expected to arrive Madagascar by the 15th of August.

The Championship will be officiated according to the FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2010, Referees Manual, Two and three Person Officiating.

The quarter-finals through the grand finale will be officiated according to the Three-Person Officiating. All the nominated Referees are expected to be very familiar with the official Three-Person Officiating.