Nigeria’s U-18 men’s basketball team have earned praise from the National Sports Commission after qualifying for the 2026 FIBA U-18 AfroBasket Championship with a perfect record at the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Qualifiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, The Punch reports.
The Junior D’Tigers finished the qualifying tournament as Zone 3 champions after winning all four of their matches to secure the region’s automatic ticket to the continental competition, which will take place in Ivory Coast from August 3 to 16.
Their qualification means Nigeria will be represented by both the male and female U-18 teams, following the girls’ earlier qualification.
Nigeria concluded the tournament with a convincing 100-54 win over hosts Burkina Faso on Saturday. Before that, they had recorded emphatic victories over Benin, winning 96-35 and 101-43, while also defeating Burkina Faso 98-54. The qualifiers featured only three countries—Nigeria, Benin and Burkina Faso—after Liberia pulled out before the competition began.
National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade commended the players for their dominant performances and encouraged them to keep improving as they pursue greater success.
“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 applauded the team’s impressive showing, saying the achievement reflects the federation’s sustained investment in discovering and nurturing young talents.
“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.
The Junior D’Tigers will now shift their attention to the 2026 FIBA U-18 AfroBasket in Ivory Coast, where they will look to build on their unbeaten qualifying campaign and challenge for continental honours.
