The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has unveiled the boys’ and girls’ teams set to compete in the 2024 FIBA U18 African Championship, scheduled to take place in Pretoria, South Africa, from September 1 to 14.
The tournament will feature 12 of the continent’s top national teams, including Angola, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Mali, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Nigeria.
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Nigeria’s boys’ squad includes standout players Bassey Ekpo Effiong, Ezekiel Oluwatemitope, and Sani Samuel.
They are joined by Azeez Sulaimon Olaitan, Daubuna Mutum, John Wilberforce, Precious Jonha, Duru Augustine Chideru, Abraham Boyce Hart, Kpee Favour Komene, Jovan Ojako Chiebuka, and Favour Ibe Ikedinachukwu.
On the girls’ side, the roster features Pius Beggi, Shehu Khadijat, John Patience, Hembam Wandoo, Idris Maryam, Tewogbade Mololuwa, Umeh Amarachi, Isaac Abigail, Ayodeji Olarenwaju, Iwuji Vivian, Samson Favour, and Lijirin Doyinsola.
The competition draw, conducted on August 24, placed Nigeria in Group B alongside Egypt, Angola, and Uganda.
The FIBA U18 African Championship format begins with a round-robin group phase, with the top teams advancing to the quarterfinals. The best third-placed teams will also have a chance to progress.
The knockout stages will determine the finalists, with the third-place and championship games slated for September 14.
This year’s competition holds high stakes, as the top two teams will earn qualification for the FIBA U19 World Cup 2025 in Switzerland.
Historically, Nigeria and Egypt have dominated the event, each winning six titles across 22 editions. Angola follows closely with four championships.
The previous edition saw a surprise run by Madagascar, who finished as runners-up after overcoming several established African basketball powers.
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