By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, has congratulated Nigeria’s U18 Boys National Team after they secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket Championship by winning the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Qualifiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The Nigerian team finished the qualification tournament unbeaten, winning all four matches in dominant fashion to claim the region’s automatic ticket to the continental championship, scheduled for August 3 to 16, 2026, in Côte d’Ivoire.
Commending the players and technical crew, Kida described the feat as another significant milestone in the Federation’s commitment to grassroots basketball development.
“This qualification is a testament to the immense talent we have in Nigeria and the hard work of our players, coaches and officials. I congratulate the team for making the nation proud with such commanding performances,” he said.
Kida attributed the team’s success to the collective commitment of the NBBF board, noting that its collaborative approach has continued to deliver positive results for Nigerian basketball.
He reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to nurturing young talents, stressing that greater attention would continue to be given to grassroots basketball as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s growing reputation on the global stage.
The NBBF President also assured Nigerians that the Federation would intensify preparations ahead of the championship to ensure both the men’s and women’s U18 teams are well-equipped to compete for honours in Côte d’Ivoire.
He further appreciated stakeholders and private sector partners for their support during the qualifiers, describing their contributions as vital to the continued development of basketball in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s U18 Boys sealed qualification with emphatic victories over Benin and hosts Burkina Faso, defeating Benin 96-35 and 101-43, while overcoming Burkina Faso 98-54 and 100-54 to finish the tournament with a flawless record.
With the qualification, both Nigeria’s male and female U18 national teams will represent the country at the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket Championship in Côte d’Ivoire.
