Nigeria U-18 Boys Dominate Qualifiers, Punch Ticket to 2026 AfroBasket

AFOLABI SAHEED OLAWALE 

Nigeria’s Junior Male Basketball Team capped a flawless run at the FIBA Africa Zone 3 U18 Qualifiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, finishing undefeated across four games to emerge Zone 3 Champions and secure an automatic ticket to the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket in Côte d’Ivoire.

The boys were ruthless from tip-off to the final buzzer, sweeping all before them between 4–11 July:
– *Nigeria 96–35 Benin*
– *Nigeria 98–54 Burkina Faso*
– *Benin 43–101 Nigeria*
– *Burkina Faso 54–100 Nigeria*

With those results, the team not only topped Zone 3 but also joined the Female U18 side, who had earlier picked an automatic qualification ticket, for the 2026 AfroBasket finals scheduled for 3–16 August in Côte d’Ivoire.

Reacting to the win, NBBF President Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida hailed the team’s dominance, crediting the victory to the “all-hands-on-deck attitude” of every member of the NBBF board.

“The NBBF shall continue to lubricate the fan belts of the talent production factories of the game in Nigeria,” Kida said. “Our focus remains on improving Nigeria’s growing global status, with greater emphasis on grassroots basketball development.”

The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, also showered encomium on the team for their outstanding performances. He urged the players to keep raising the bar:

“You should continue to develop your game. Olumide Oyedeji and Akeem Olajuwon were born already. As we speak, Sarah Ogoke is born already. All we need to do is to monitor their progress and plan for them.”

The Federation further acknowledged the support of Mr. Emmanuel Ayuba Iza, Chief Executive Officer of XEJet, who visited the team in Ouagadougou. Mr. Iza stressed the need for increased private sector participation in Nigerian basketball, calling on corporate organisations and stakeholders to complement the Federation’s efforts by investing in the growth and development of the sport.

With both male and female teams now bound for Côte d’Ivoire, the NBBF says it is determined to safeguard the records set in Ouagadougou and launch a strong conquest mission at the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket.