Basketball
WITH PLANS FOR 109 COURTS, BASKETBALL BOARD THANKS NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT
The Nigeria Basketball Federation has thanked the Federal Government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports for its support to funding and approval of its programs which has seen the continued rise of the game in Nigeria.
During a courtesy call on the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare upon arrival from the 2021 Afrobasket qualifiers in Rwanda, the federation said the unparalleled support has made administering basketball easier.
Represented by its President, Musa Kida on Tuesday, the board said, it was there to appreciate and brief the Minister and other high ranking Ministry officials about their Kigali experience and convey the goodwill messages of the coaching crew and players to the minister.
“I came here to personally brief the Honourable Minister about Kigali. Kigali was the first window for Afrobasket 2021 qualifiers.
“I brought in very glad tidings of our successes in beating all the teams we faced, but more importantly I brought the glad tidings of NBBF and the new Technical crew headed by Mike Brown from the Golden States Warriors.
“He is looking forward to meeting the minister. He understood very clearly with his team that the minister had to stay for more urgent national matters but he asked me specifically to send a very personal message
“As we all know, Mike Brown is one of the best coaches in the world, but additionally, I came to personally thank the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports for allowing the Permanent Secretary to also represent him in Kigali which he did ably.
“For us, it shows the support that we have consistently enjoyed from the ministry and the government and we look forward to the continued support.”
In his repose, the Minister commended the NBBF board for putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians as he declared that basketball has come to stay in Nigeria.
“Beyond football, Nigerians have talents and competence in other sports. Our ascendancy in basketball is no longer stoppable. It has been proven; we are African champions in both the men and women with both qualifying for the Olympics.
“It has never happened before. Beyond football and athletics, clearly, basketball as a game has arrived in this country and we are a dominant force in the world.
“We are happy because we are in the hands of good administrators and managers of our teams because beyond the talents we put together, you also need people to manage them. These are the people that have set their eyes on greater glory, podium performance and I am sure so many other Nigerians join basketball revolution”, Dare said.
He seized the occasion to announce a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Sports and the NBBF to have at least one basketball court in each senatorial district across the country.
For him, it is essential that kids in the nooks and crannies of the country find an avenue to chase their dreams as well as targeting the long term dominance of Nigeria on the global stage.
He promised that under his watch, basketball will witness a revolution that will transcend the national team centred around objective grassroots basketball development.
“We hope to start a project to have at least one basketball court in at least one senatorial district in the country through private and public participation. That is a commitment that is being chaired by the NBBF and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
On when the project will likely start, Dare said, “By January, 2021, we should have a template of how this will run, how the funding will be received, how it will be implemented and how those our young ones in primary and secondary schools, villages and some of these senatorial districts can just stroll into a basketball court and make basketball a culture. That is what happens in America.”
—
The sixth edition of the annual women’s basketball championship organised in honour of the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Dr Daniel Olukoya, and his wife, Dr Shade Olukoya, will climax with the grand finale on Wednesday, July 15, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The championship forms part of activities marking the birthday celebration of the influential couple and has grown into one of the notable events on Nigeria’s women’s basketball calendar.
According to a press release signed by Godwin Enakhena, the Director of Sports, MFM, the tournament continues to serve as a platform for showcasing elite female basketball talent, attracting some of the best players from across Africa.
The competition has become a significant avenue for promoting women’s participation in sports while providing opportunities for players to display their skills at a high level.
Now in its sixth edition, the championship has steadily gained prominence, reflecting MFM’s longstanding commitment to sports development and youth empowerment.
Over the years, the church has played a pivotal role in nurturing talent through its various sporting programmes and clubs, particularly in basketball and athletics.
The 2026 edition is expected to culminate in a keenly contested final, bringing together top women’s teams from Nigeria in a celebration of sporting excellence and the enduring contributions of Dr Daniel Olukoya and Dr Shade Olukoya to both spiritual and community development.
The championship’s grand finale is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, with basketball enthusiasts expected to witness another memorable chapter in a competition that has become a fitting tribute to the Olukoyas’ impact on sports and society.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
SportyTV has secured a three-year agreement to broadcast NBA games free-to-air across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, in a move expected to widen access to basketball on the continent.
The deal will see SportyTV air selected NBA games and special events on its free television platform from next season through September 2028.
The partnership begins this Thursday with Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons. For the remainder of the current season, SportyTV will show eight playoff and NBA Finals games.
Beginning next season, the broadcaster will offer a wider package that includes weekly NBA Saturday games, NBA Christmas Day fixtures, NBA All-Star Weekend programming, selected Play-In Tournament games and extensive playoff coverage, including the NBA Finals.
Vice President of Media, Marketing and Business Development at Sporty Group, Elias Gallego, said the agreement was designed to make NBA content more accessible to African audiences.
“There’s a difference between content being available and it being accessible. This deal closes that gap with NBA games, across mobile, smart TVs, and digital platforms, built around how people actually watch today,” Gallego said.
Fans across the four countries will have the opportunity to watch some of the NBA’s biggest stars, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The coverage will also spotlight players with African roots and connections, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid.
Apart from live games, SportyTV will broadcast daily highlights, classic NBA content and historic matchups featuring legendary figures like Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo.
The addition of the NBA further strengthens SportyTV’s basketball portfolio, which already includes coverage of the Euroleague.
Visit the Sports Village Square Channel: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
By Ugo Okeiyi, Enugu
The end-of-year Ozobz Elite Basketball Invitational Tournament, tagged “Championing the Youth Through Sports, Education and Opportunity,” has taken off and will be concluded on Friday. The three-day event is taking place at the Indoor Sports Multipurpose Gymnasium, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
The grassroots basketball competition is designed to serve as a platform for discovering and nurturing the next generation of Nigerian basketball talent.
A total of 14 teams — eight male and six female sides drawn from across the country — are competing for honours in what promises to be an exciting three-day basketball spectacle.
The tournament is powered by the Anthony Ozubuekwe Foundation, in collaboration with the Enugu State Ministry for Youth and Sports Development and the Enugu State Basketball Association.
Organisers say fans should expect high-quality action, with displays of skill, athleticism and tactical awareness from some of the most promising young players in the country.
According to the organisers, the initiative is structured to positively engage young people, steering them away from social vices and criminal tendencies, while using sports as a tool for education, personal development and opportunity creation.
They added that the tournament will also give coaches and team officials a valuable opportunity to assess the mental readiness, discipline and competitive mindset of the players, while providing a conducive environment for athletes to interact, bond and learn from one another.
The competition will be played in a round-robin format, with attractive prize money on offer. In the men’s category, the champions will receive ₦2 million and a giant trophy, while the runners-up will earn ₦1.5 million.
In the women’s category, the winning team will go home with ₦1.5 million, while the second-placed team will receive ₦750,000.
With its blend of competition, youth empowerment and community development, the Ozobz Elite Basketball Invitational is expected to be one of the standout grassroots sports events of the year in Enugu State.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso Launch Joint Bid to Host 2032 AFCON
Gratitude Beyond the Touchline: The People Behind My World Cup ‘La Décima’
Super Falcons Camp Nears Full Strength as Ijamilusi Arrives, Flight Hitch Delays Two Stars
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
- World Cup1 week ago
Potential World Cup expansion to be discussed after 2026 edition Says Infantino
- World Cup1 day ago
How a 64-team World Cup could transform soccer’s economics
- World Cup2 days ago
Reuters: 10 Key Takeaways from the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- World Cup1 week ago
Norway turn World Cup heartbreak into celebration as huge crowds pack capital
- World Cup4 days ago
The economic goal that never came: World Cup falls short of boosting Mexico
- World Cup1 week ago
England’s resilience faces ultimate test against Argentina in World Cup semi-final
- World Cup1 week ago
France do not fear Spain but respect their quality, players say
- World Cup6 days ago
Argentina’s coach, Scaloni faces former tutor, Spain’s De la Fuente In World Cup final