Nigeria’s U-18 basketball team begins battle in Abidjan

Posted : 31 July 2024

Nigeria's male and female U-18 national teams arrived in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire last Thursday ahead of the FIBA U-18 qualifying tournament slated for July 29 to August 4.

Although the Olympic Games continue in Paris, France, for these young Nigerians, it is a chance to develop, win some games, and qualify for a bigger competition in South Africa, eventually growing into the D’Tigers and D’Tigress teams.

The NBBF announced on Wednesday that the boys' and girls' teams were able to train for two weeks in Nigeria in preparation for the trip to Abidjan, as the Federation remains resolute in keeping their youth programmes going.

The Leader of Delegation and Vice Chairman of the Youth Committee on the Board of the NBBF, Ugo Udezue, said from the Abidjan centre that the NBBF remained focused on their set developmental goals.

He expressed deep gratitude to the NBBF President Musa Kida for his resilience in creating an enabling environment and all those who volunteered time and resources to bring the team to Abidjan.

“We are grateful to the Ministry of Sports Development and the Nigerian government in general for making the platform available to these young ones. They genuinely understand the set goals of the NBBF."

“The determination to pursue quality youth programmes got us this far. Preparing the team and making the trip from Lagos to Abidjan may have been challenging, but the federation is determined to stay focused on the goals of youth development. We must continue to develop the young ones for sustenance,” Ugo said.

The Federation’s ideals have sustained the men’s Divisions One and Two Leagues with corporate sponsorship. The Division Two players are largely teenagers from schools across the country.

The boys' U-18 team in Abidjan includes Bassey Ekpo Effiong, Abraham Boyce Hart, Sani Samuel, Azeez Suleiman Olaitan, Daubuna Ibrahimdau-Mutum, John Wilberforce, and Precious Johha. Others are Duru Augustine Chinedu, Kpee Favour Komene, Jovan Ojako Chiebuka, Favour Ibe Ikedinachukwu, and Ezekiel Isaac Oluwatemitope.

The ladies' team includes Tewogbade Ayomide, Gbemisola Samuel, Khadijat Garba, Amarachi Umeh, Chiamaka Mgbon, Osaretin Samuel, Chiamaka Iwuji, and Olanrewaju Ayodeji. The others are Pius Idubawo Beggi, Maryam Idris, Wandoo Hembam, and Isaac Abigail.

The U-18 boys are coached by Fubara Onyanabo, while former national point guard Juliana Akhere is in charge of the young ladies.

The best teams from the zonal qualifiers in Ivory Coast will compete in South Africa later in the year for the African finals.

Nigeria’s U-18 basketball team begins battle in Abidjan

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