Nigeria’s U18 basketball teams, both male and female, have advanced to the quarter-finals of the FIBA Africa U18 World Cup Qualifiers, currently taking place in Pretoria, South Africa.
The Nigerian girls’ team secured their quarter-final spot as one of the best third-placed teams after a hard-fought group stage.
Their qualification sets up a tough encounter against the Egyptian team, one of the top contenders, scheduled for Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the boys’ team showed remarkable resilience and teamwork in their group-stage games, ensuring a smooth progression to the next phase.
They are now eagerly awaiting their upcoming match in the quarter-finals, where they aim to push further toward securing one of the two African slots for the FIBA U18 World Cup in Switzerland.
Head coach of the boys’ team, Tunde Adegoke, expressed confidence in his squad’s abilities ahead of the knockout stage, saying, “This team has shown character and discipline in the group stages. We are ready for the quarter-finals, and our goal remains to represent Africa on the world stage.”
The tournament in South Africa serves as the qualification event for the FIBA U18 World Cup, which will be held in Switzerland next year. Only two African teams will qualify for the global tournament, and both Nigerian teams are determined to be among them.
For the girls’ team, the path to the quarter-finals may have been challenging, but head coach Ifunanya Okeke remains optimistic. “We know what Egypt brings to the table, but we’ve been preparing for this moment. The girls are focused, and we are going to give it everything,” she remarked.
The Nigerian basketball federation, fans, and the players themselves are hopeful for a successful campaign as both teams fight for the honor of representing Africa on the international stage.
“Reaching the World Cup is a dream, and we’re one step closer,” added Adegoke, emphasizing the determination of both teams to go all the way.
