The National Sports Commission (NSC) has congratulated Nigeria's U-18 men's basketball team following their qualification for the 2026 FIBA U-18 AfroBasket Championship after an unbeaten campaign at the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Qualifiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The Junior D'Tigers emerged Zone 3 champions after winning all four of their matches to secure an automatic ticket to the continental championship, which will be held in Côte d'Ivoire from August 3 to 16, 2026. Their qualification means both Nigeria's male and female U-18 teams will feature at the tournament after the Junior D'Tigress also booked their place.
Nigeria sealed qualification with an emphatic 100-54 victory over hosts Burkina Faso on Saturday. The team had earlier recorded victories of 96-35 and 101-43 over Benin, as well as a 98-54 win against Burkina Faso. The three-nation qualifying tournament featured Nigeria, Benin and Burkina Faso following Liberia's withdrawal before the competition.
Reacting to the team's achievement, NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade congratulated the players on their impressive performances and encouraged them to continue working on their development.
"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 (NBBF) President Musa Kida also praised the team's dominant displays, attributing the success to the federation's sustained investment in grassroots basketball.
"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.
