The National Sports Commission has applauded Nigeria’s U-18 men’s basketball team after they secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA U-18 AfroBasket championship with an unbeaten run at the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Qualifiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, The PUNCH reports.
The Junior D’Tigers produced a flawless campaign to emerge Zone 3 champions, winning all four matches to seal an automatic ticket to the continental championship scheduled to hold in Ivory Coast from August 3 to 16. Their qualification means both Nigeria’s male and female U-18 teams will compete at the tournament after the girls also booked their place.
Nigeria wrapped up the qualifiers with a commanding 100-54 victory over hosts Burkina Faso on Saturday, having earlier defeated Benin 96-35 and 101-43, as well as Burkina Faso 98-54. The three-team tournament featured Nigeria, Benin and Burkina Faso after Liberia withdrew before the start of the competition.
Reacting to the team’s achievement, Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, congratulated the players for their outstanding performances and urged them to continue developing their talents.
“You should continue to develop your game. Olumide Oyedeji and Hakeem 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,” Olopade said.
Nigeria Basketball Federation President, Musa Kida, also praised the team’s dominant displays, attributing the success to the collective efforts of the federation’s board and its commitment to grassroots development.
“The NBBF shall continue to lubricate the fan belts of the talent production factories of the game in Nigeria. Our focus remains on improving Nigeria’s growing global status, with greater emphasis on grassroots basketball development,” Kida said.
Nigeria will head to Ivory Coast aiming to build on their impressive qualifying campaign as they chase another continental title at the 2026 FIBA U-18 AfroBasket.
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