Nigeria Basketball Federation invites 36 U18 players to Abuja camp ahead of 2026 AfroBasket

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has selected 36 players – 15 boys and 21 girls – for a national preparatory camp ahead of the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket Championships. The camp opens on Tuesday, 28 July 2026 at the Athletes High Performance Centre, Package B, Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. The Junior D’Tigers will be coached by Michael Iikima, while Peter Akindele leads the Junior D’Tigress. All invitees must report with an international passport, a yellow card and a birth certificate; as NBBF Secretary General Mrs. Amina O. Amanchi said, “Every invited player reports with their passport, yellow card and birth certificate.” Final selections will be based strictly on performance in camp.

The championship will be held between 4 and 15 August 2026 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The Junior D’Tigers earned the region’s automatic ticket after winning the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso without conceding a goal (wins of 96‑35 over Benin, 98‑54 over Burkina Faso and two return legs of 101‑43 and 100‑54). The Junior D’Tigress qualified automatically. Nigeria’s U18 boys programme holds six continental titles, a record matched only by Egypt. The Federation also announced XEJet as the Official Travel Partner, dedicating a charter aircraft to transport both teams to and from Abidjan.