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The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has called up 36 players — 15 boys and 21 girls — for a national preparatory camp ahead of the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket Championships.
The camp opened Tuesday, 28 July 2026, at the Athletes High Performance Centre, Package B, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Coach Michael Ikima will oversee the Junior D’Tigers, while Coach Akindele Peter takes charge of the Junior D’Tigress. Final squad selection for both travelling teams will be determined strictly by performance in camp.
The championships will run from 4 to 15 August in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, marking the tournament’s first appearance in West Africa since Mali hosted it in Bamako in 2018 (FIBA Basketball).
Nigeria’s boys secured their place in the 12-team field after dominating the Zone 3 qualifiers, while the Junior D’Tigress qualified directly on the back of their runner-up finish in Johannesburg in 2024, having also denied hosts Côte d’Ivoire a home victory that year.
On the boys’ side, hosts Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Cameroon, Senegal and Morocco all qualified automatically as semifinalists from the previous tournament in Pretoria, South Africa. Defending champions in the boys’ category are Mali, who beat Cameroon to the title in 2024, with Senegal taking bronze.
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For the girls, the reigning continental powers are similarly stacked: Mali, Nigeria, Cameroon and Uganda all secured their places by reaching the semifinals of the 2024 edition. Mali’s women’s side are especially dominant historically, having already won nine previous U18 Women’s AfroBasket titles.
Beyond continental bragging rights, the tournament carries direct qualification stakes. The 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket doubles as Africa’s qualifying event for the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Pardubice, Czechia, with the champions and runners-up in both the boys’ and girls’ brackets set to claim the continent’s places at the global showpiece.
NBBF Secretary General Mrs. Amina O. Amanchi has ordered that all invited players and officials report with international passports, yellow cards and birth certificates, warning there would be no exceptions or late paperwork, saying Nigeria owes it to its athletes to arrive in Abidjan “beyond reproach.”
Invited Players
Boys — Coach Michael Ikima: Victor Sunday Endurance, Okoh Thomas Agbo, John Isiah, Otaluwa Daniel Alhaji, Augustine Timothy, Asimolowo Kehinde, Idornigie Emmanuel, Aribo Olakunle Andrew, Victor Emeka Nwafor, Unekwe Ekene ThankGod, Kayode Olakunle, Ogbona Joshua, Somtochukwu Jude Aniegbunam, Tega Onosh, Bobby Tobi Ifedinezi.
Girls — Coach Peter Akindele: Adeoye Zainab, Kehinde Jesutofunmi, Adelaja Zainab, Alli Khadijah K., Eihawaguan Oseto, Hembam Sewe Vera, Tyosar Suurshater Priscilla, Abigail Folorunsho, Okolo Chidinma, Igwe Juliet Chizoba, Aleje Cecilia Sunday, Judith Joshua Auta, Gift Anani, Abali Anastiecia John, Lawrence Becky, Dike Victoria Nneke, Okpe Mavellous Gbedeojo, Idehen Osarobo Osaruonamen, Aladelua Precious Grace, Onajomo Ogheneochuko, Olatunde Karimot Ajoke.
