Sports Groove

  By Maxwell Kumoye     A fresh controversy is brewing within the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) ahead of its forthcoming elections, with federation member and highly rated FIBA match commissioner Adamu Deshi challenging the leadership of outgoing President Engineer Musa Kida over the conduct of the federation’s affairs. Deshi, a forensic auditor and accountant, issued the challenge in a strongly worded rejoinder to a recent publication on Zazamedia.com.ng titled “Setting the Records Straight: NBBF Clears the Air on Tenure Elongation.” In his response, Deshi disputed the publication’s explanation of the absence of several NBBF board members, questioning whether they had actually resigned or had been accused of boycotting federation activities. He demanded evidence of invitations allegedly sent to the affected board members, insisting that the NBBF leadership should produce correspondence showing that members were invited to meetings and deliberately refu...

By Maxwell Kumoye    Nigeria’s D’Tigers will face a stern test as the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers enter the second round, with five tickets to the global showpiece in Qatar up for grabs. The second round brings together 12 of Africa’s leading basketball nations, divided into Group E and Group F, with the fourth qualifying window scheduled for August 24 to September 1, 2026. Nigeria has been drawn in Group E alongside Cameroon, South Sudan, Guinea, Tunisia and Cape Verde, with the group’s games taking place in Radès, Tunisia. D’Tigers will begin their campaign against Cameroon on August 27 before facing South Sudan the following day. Their final game of the window will be against Cape Verde on August 30. Other fixtures in the group will see Guinea face South Sudan and Tunisia take on Cabo Verde on August 27. On August 28, Cameroon will battle Tunisia, while Cabo Verde will meet Guinea. The final day of action on August 30 features Guinea agains...

By Maxwell Kumoye       Nigeria has been drawn in a challenging Group E for the next phase of the FIBA Africa Basketball World Cup Qualifiers, where the D'Tigers will face Cameroon, South Sudan, Cabo Verde, Tunisia and Guinea. The draw sets up a demanding schedule for Nigeria, with their opening game against regional rivals Cameroon on August 27, before taking on South Sudan the following day. The D'Tigers will conclude the three-game qualifying window against Cabo Verde on August 30. Other fixtures in the group will see Guinea face South Sudan and Tunisia take on Cabo Verde on August 27. On August 28, Cameroon will battle Tunisia, while Cabo Verde will meet Guinea. The final day of action on August 30 features Guinea against Cameroon and Tunisia versus South Sudan. Nigeria will head into the qualifiers with a favourable record against two of their opening opponents. The D'Tigers have faced Cameroon four times, winning three of those encounters, while they boa...

...Strengthens youth development in Africa By Maxwell Kumoye and Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye at the El Wak Stadium in Accra    The Ghanaian leg of the Jordan Nwora Basketball Camp concluded successfully in Accra on Sunday after several days of intensive training and mentorship for young basketball talents. About 90 children drawn from different schools participated in the programme, which continues to grow as one of the leading youth basketball development initiatives on the continent. Retired Colonel Sam Ahmedu, who coordinated the camp, expressed satisfaction with the turnout and praised the support received from the Ghana Basketball Association. According to him, the camp has continued to create opportunities for young players both on and off the court, noting that two participants from previous Ghana editions are currently studying scholarships in the United States. The Jordan Nwora Basketball Camp, which has now been staged in more than seven countries a...

By Maxwell Kumoye with additional report by Ayodele Bakare     A fresh storm is brewing in Nigerian basketball after a purported letter allegedly from FIBA claiming the former board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation is authorized to remain in office and was dismissed as a blatant fraud. The document, which has circulated widely among basketball stakeholders, suggested that the board led by Musa Kida had been granted what some described as a “stay of execution” to continue running the federation. However, the claim has now been strongly challenged, with insiders insisting the letter is fabricated and designed to mislead stakeholders amid the ongoing leadership dispute. According to investigations, there is no record that the Nigeria Olympic Committee recently wrote to FIBA seeking clarification on the recognized representative of the NBBF, as suggested in the circulating document.  Consequently, it is also believed that FIBA never issued any response in 2026...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye     Three African teams, Senegal, Mali and South Sudan women's national basketball teams will battle for the continent’s final ticket to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 as the global qualifying tournaments enter a decisive stage. The race toward the tournament, which will be hosted in Germany, intensifies from March 11 to 17, 2025, when national teams from across the world compete in qualification tournaments staged in four cities, namely: • San Juan • Wuhan • Istanbul • Lyon Africa’s hopes of securing another spot at the global showpiece rest on the performances of the three teams, who will face strong opposition in their respective groups as they chase the continent’s last available berth. The qualifying tournaments bring together top teams from different continents, with only a limited number of slots available for the 2026 championship.  For Senegal, Mali and South Sudan, the matches represent a crucial oppor...

...Petition submitted by NBBF Congress to FIBA is receiving serious attention - FIBA  By Maxwell Kumoye with additional report by Niyi Busari      The leadership crisis brewing in Nigerian basketball deepened on Thursday after the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and outgoing Nigeria Basketball Federation vice-president Babs Ogunade firmly rejected viral claims that the world governing body had endorsed the continued leadership of Musa Kida beyond his constitutional tenure. Reports circulating widely on social media had suggested that FIBA reaffirmed its recognition of Kida as president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) despite the expiration of his second four-year term. However, the global basketball body swiftly distanced itself from the claims, stating that it has not issued any communication regarding the tenure of the outgoing NBBF leadership. Kida’s second term began on January 31, 2022, foll...

...Darkness has finally paved way for light after Abuja meeting – Ahmedu  By Maxwell Kumoye   Nigeria basketball has taken too many hits off the court, in boardrooms, and in the hearts of players who only want to hoop.  But now, after years of turbulence, a new ball is being checked in. And this time, the bounce feels different. Retired Colonel Sam Ahmedu, President of FIBA Africa Zone 3 and one of the most powerful administrators the Nigerian game has ever produced, believes the long night is ending.  His message is simple, firm, and unmistakably confident, peace is coming back to Nigerian basketball. Not by wishful thinking. Not by force. But by structure, dialogue, and law, so says the retired army officer. At the heart of this renewed optimism is a crucial meeting in Abuja—a meeting many now describe as the foundation stone for a new-look Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). With National Sports Commission Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, presi...