The Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation (NBSF) has announced the appointment of EEXSport as its Exclusive Worldwide Marketing, Sponsorship, Communications, Media and Digital Agency.

The move, according to the Federation, forms part of a broader reform agenda aimed at strengthening governance, boosting visibility and ensuring the sustainable development of baseball and softball in Nigeria.

Strategic Reform Agenda

In a statement, the NBSF said the partnership aligns with national sports development goals and the Olympic Movement’s emphasis on institutional capacity building, commercial sustainability, athlete-centred growth and global engagement.

Under the agreement, EEXSport will design and execute integrated strategies covering marketing, sponsorship, communications, media and digital operations. The focus will include strengthening the Federation’s brand architecture, enhancing stakeholder engagement, attracting strategic partners and expanding the visibility of Nigeria’s baseball and softball programmes across continental and global platforms.

L-R: Uche Odozor, President, Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation (NBSF), Chioma Onwuzurumba, Events Specialist at EEXSPORT and Emeka Enyadike, CEO EEXSPORT

President of the Federation, Uche Odozor, described the appointment as a significant institutional step.

“This appointment reflects our commitment to building a modern, well-governed Federation aligned with global best practices and the values of the Olympic Movement,” Odozor said. “Sustainable growth in sport requires strong institutional structures beyond the field of play. Through this partnership with EEXSport, we are taking deliberate steps to enhance our commercial capacity, strengthen our communications and create an enabling environment for athletes, officials and development partners.”

He added that the collaboration would also improve the Federation’s engagement with government institutions, the Nigerian Olympic Committee, continental and international bodies, as well as private-sector stakeholders.

Focus on Innovation and Grassroots Expansion

Chief Executive Officer of EEXSport, Emeka Enyadike, said the agency would bring a development-driven and innovation-focused approach to the partnership.

L-R: Emeka Enyadike, CEO, EEXSPORT, Barrister Wilson Ajuwa, also of EEXSPORT and Uche Odozor, President of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation (NSBF).

“We are honoured to partner with the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation at this important stage of its growth,” Enyadike said. “Our approach is rooted in the principles of sustainability, good governance and long-term value creation. We look forward to building strong commercial frameworks, elevating the Federation’s national and international profile and supporting programmes that ultimately benefit athletes and the wider sports ecosystem.”

He noted that special attention would be given to emerging formats such as Baseball5 and esports variants, alongside infrastructure development, grassroots participation, school-based programmes, coach education and baseball management training.

“These initiatives are critical to creating a broad, inclusive and future-ready ecosystem for the sport in Nigeria,” he said.

Positioning for Growth

The Federation believes the partnership will enhance its capacity to deliver structured competitions, boost stakeholder confidence and position baseball and softball as effective platforms for youth development, social inclusion and international representation.

The NBSF is the officially recognised governing body responsible for administering and promoting baseball and softball in Nigeria, overseeing national teams, grassroots initiatives and high-performance programmes in collaboration with government and Olympic institutions.

EEXSport, a sports solutions and strategic advisory agency under TSA Projects Limited, specialises in sponsorship, communications, media, content and digital solutions, working with federations and rights holders to build sustainable commercial models aligned with governance and long-term development goals.

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After Nigerian women conquered Africa in women’s football barely a week ago, the women’s basketball team are on the verge of repeating the same feat. This time, it is Nigeria’s D’Tigeres facing Mali in the FIBA-Africa AfroBasket final at the Palais des Sports Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

This final match is a repeat of the 2021 episode. Both teams had also met in the 2017 semifinals when Nigeria walked away with a 48–47 victory, marking the beginning of their eight-year African dominance.

To get to this year’s title match, Nigeria on Saturday night beat Senegal 75-68in what was their toughest match so far.

Mali, on the other hand, overcame South Sudan by 76-50. Now, a clash that everyone has been waiting for is set up.

It is a continental rivalry steeped in history. Now, a showcase of talent, revenge, and supremacy comes to a head as Nigeria and Mali face off in the final.

Both teams arrived at this stage undefeated, steamrolling through group play, the quarterfinals, and the semis with clinical precision.

This is more than just a battle for a trophy. It’s a matchup with unfinished business that stretches back over a decade.

For both teams, it has been a decade of tension and turnarounds.

The fierce rivalry between the D’Tigress of Nigeria and Mali’s Lionesses dates back to the 2011 edition of the AfroBasket in Bamako.

On that occasion, Mali, playing at home, shattered Nigeria’s title dreams with a 71–62 win in the semifinals.

It was only the beginning of Nigeria’s heartbreaks at the hands of Mali. In 2013 in Maputo, the Malians inflicted two more painful defeats—one in the group phase (78–45) and another in the fifth-place game (57–50).

But fortunes flipped in 2017. In Mali’s own backyard, Nigeria edged a dramatic semifinal 48–47, marking the start of a new era of dominance. The D’Tigress went on to claim the title and haven’t looked back since.

They beat Mali convincingly in the 2019 semifinal (79–58 in Dakar) and again in the 2021 final (70–59 in Yaoundé). That final is now being reprised—a rematch four years in the making.

Road to the 2025 Final

• Nigeria came through Group D unscathed with wins over Mozambique and Rwanda. They dispatched Cameroon 83–47 in the quarters and edged past Senegal 75–68 in a tense semifinal clash.
• Mali, dominant in Group B, overwhelmed South Sudan and Cameroon before defeating Cameroon again 86–68 in the quarters and outclassing South Sudan 76–50 in the semis.

Meanwhile, the epic 2021 final clash is echoing.  Remarkably, eight players from each side who clashed in the 2021 final are still on their respective rosters—a sign of consistency, experience, and unresolved rivalry.

In the current Nigeria squad are returning core of Amy Okonkwo, Pallas Akpanana, Sara Ogoke, Promise Amukamara, Murjanatu Musa, Ezinne Kalu, Victoria Macaulay and Nicole Enabosi.

Mali’s veterans from 2021 include Rokia Doumbia, Maimouna Haidara, Sika Koné, Djeneba N’Diaye, Aminata Sangaré, Fanta Sissoko, Kadidia Maiga and Alima Dembélé.

While the players may be familiar, the coaching dynamics have changed. Nigeria, formerly led by Otis Hughley Jr., now has a different bench boss.

Mali’s former head coach Luis Brizuela Carrion remains part of the staff but no longer calls the shots.

There’s also a generational contrast in the teams: Mali, with an average age of 24, is the second youngest team in Abidjan. Nigeria’s squad, seasoned and composed, averages 28 years—a crucial advantage in high-stakes games.

There are lessons from the last final they played. In 2021, Nigeria never trailed, asserting early control. Despite Mali winning the rebounding battle (49–39), they struggled badly from beyond the arc, shooting a mere 2-for-22, while Nigeria hit 7 of 17 from deep.

Mali will need more efficiency and composure to turn the tide this time. Aside from the 2025 championship title and bragging rights, this is about legacy. Nigeria could extend their reign and win a historic fifth consecutive title. Mali, on the other hand, may have their revenge and reclaim the continental crown.

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MFM women’s basketball club are in Monrovia, Liberia for the FIBA  Africa Zone 3 qualifiers for Club Championship which begins on Monday. Seven teams are participating.

Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire as well as hosts, Liberia are presenting two clubs each. The seventh club is from the Republic of Benin.

Nigeria’s other team is the Customs of Abuja.

 In the MFM team are four players who qualified Nigeria for the U-18 World Championship in Serbia happening in 2025

Captain Wandoo Hembam Marvis led the U-18 team. The others are Haminatu Ayoka Ayodeji, Idumabo Beggi Pius and Abigail Isaac.

MFM  team defeated Nigeria Customs to retain the title they won last year in Lagos.

The  captain, Ukamaka Okoh was emphatic as she said that the club’s  mission in Liberia is to pick one of the two tickets at stake and to appreciate the team financier and MFM General Overseer, Dr Daniel Olukoya for his unwavering support for them