By Ado Salisu
Nigeria’s U18 Boys Basketball Team completed a flawless campaign at the FIBA Africa Zone 3 U18 Qualifiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, winning all four matches to emerge champions and secure an automatic qualification for the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Nigerian team delivered dominant performances throughout the tournament, recording emphatic victories in all their matches played between July 4 and 11:
Nigeria 96–35 Benin
Nigeria 98–54 Burkina Faso
Nigeria 101–43 Benin
Nigeria 100–54 Burkina Faso
The unbeaten run saw Nigeria finish as Zone 3 champions and join the country’s U18 Girls Team, which had earlier secured automatic qualification for the continental championship scheduled to take place from August 3 to 16, 2026, in Côte d’Ivoire.
Reacting to the achievement, President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, praised the team’s outstanding performance, attributing the success to the collective commitment of the Federation’s board members.
“The NBBF will continue to strengthen the country’s talent development system.
“Our focus remains on enhancing Nigeria’s growing global profile in basketball, with greater emphasis on grassroots development,” Kida said.
The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, also commended the team for its impressive performance and urged the players to remain focused on their development.
“You should continue to improve your game. Great players like Olumide Oyedeji, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Sarah Ogoke did not become stars overnight.
“Our responsibility is to identify talents early, monitor their progress, and provide the support they need to succeed,” he said.
The Federation also acknowledged the support of the Chief Executive Officer of XEJet, Mr. Emmanuel Ayuba Iza, who visited the team in Ouagadougou.
He emphasized the importance of greater private sector participation in Nigerian basketball and called on corporate organisations and other stakeholders to support the Federation’s efforts by investing in the growth and development of the sport.
With both the male and female U18 teams now qualified for the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket, the NBBF says it is determined to build on the success recorded in Ouagadougou and mount a strong challenge for continental honours in Côte d’Ivoire.
