体坛英语新闻：Nigeria set to host FIBA basketball championships

LAGOS, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation is set to host the maiden Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) Africa Zone 3, competition tagged `3X3 Basketball Tournament' in Lagos, the country's commercial hub.

The competition is scheduled to hold at the National Stadium, Lagos from June 18 to June 21. The event will also feature other side actions like the three point' s shootout, slam dunk computations and musical attractions.

President of FIBA Zone 3 Sam Ahmedu told reporters on Wednesday that the event was being organized to develop basketball in the zone.

He said 10,000 U.S. dollars would be expended in running the competition. According to him, the zone comprises hosts, Nigeria, Cote d' Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Niger, Benin Republic and Liberia.

The zonal president also said a workshop for participants and officials will hold on June 19 before the jump ball on June 20.