Nigeria could make improvement in their basketball if adequate funds were provided, Tijani Umar, President of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), said on Saturday.

Umar told reporters in Lagos that the NBBF, as an active sports federation, did not have a budget but survives with the little support it gets from the government and its sponsors.

Nigeria's national women basketball team on Friday in Maputo lost 74-77 to hosts Mozambique in the quarterfinal of the 2013 Women Afrobasket.

The official blamed lack of preparation and poor funding for D'Tigress' poor outing.

"I want people to understand that you can only reap what you sow; we must begin to invest in the long-term," he said.

"The national team of this country is full of talent, but talent can only take you to a certain level," he added.