Sports Groove

By Maxwell Kumoye     Former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji has vowed to seek justice over the outcome of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Elective Congress in Abuja, claiming irregularities in the process and describing it as a “selection” rather than a credible election. Oyedeji, who contested for a South-West representative position and the President at the congress held at the ICC Centre in Abuja on Thursday, said his name was initially omitted from the list of candidates and was only included on the ballot after he protested on the floor. Although he acknowledged his eventual defeat, the former Nigerian international questioned the fairness and transparency of the process, insisting that candidates should be given equal opportunities to contest. “I am not saying there was no election, but there was a selection,” Oyedeji said in an interview. “Everything I said before the election played out. You can go back and review my statements before the electio...

By Maxwell Kumoye   Dr Mustapha Abdullahi has emerged as the new President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), securing a four-year mandate at Thursday’s elective congress in Abuja amid controversy over the conduct of the electoral process. Abdullahi polled 40 votes to emerge unopposed in a poorly conducted polls by Dr Lanre Glover led Electoral Committee. The outcome of the election has been overshadowed by allegations of constitutional violations, procedural irregularities and concerns over the credibility of the electoral process. In a major development, all the other presidential candidates reportedly withdrew from the process, citing what they described as an abnormal electoral procedure, multiple violations of the NBBF Constitution and other irregularities. The withdrawals have raised further questions about the legitimacy of the exercise, with the aggrieved stakeholders challenging the process and insisting that the federation’s electoral guidelines and ...

...Oyedeji, Ugboaja, Ahmedu, others caught in screening controversy By Maxwell Kumoye     The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Electoral Committee, led by Dr Lanre Glover, has come under scrutiny over alleged inconsistencies in its screening decisions ahead of the October 15 elections, with questions mounting over the application of the federation’s constitution and the eligibility of several prominent basketball stakeholders. At the centre of the controversy is the committee’s decision to clear some aspirants to contest for the NBBF presidency while reportedly denying them clearance to run for other positions on the federation’s board. The decisions have raised concerns about whether the screening process is being conducted under a consistent set of rules, with critics alleging that the committee’s actions could prevent certain candidates from securing board positions. Former D’Tigers captain and Olympian Olumide Oyedeji is among those affected. Although clear...

  By Maxwell Kumoye    Basketball administrator and sponsor Igoche Mark has accused unnamed interests of manipulating the build-up to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections, alleging that legitimate stakeholders are being pushed out to pave the way for favourable voting outcomes. Mark, founder of the Mark D' Ball Basketball Championship, made the allegations in Abuja, warning that the credibility of the federation's electoral process could be undermined if stakeholders are denied the opportunity to participate freely. He argued that those seeking leadership positions should convince voters with their plans for Nigerian basketball rather than allegedly influencing the composition of the electorate. Mark claimed that stakeholders in several states had been removed from the process without proper justification, with individuals he described as lacking knowledge of or involvement in basketball allegedly taking their places. The development, he said, ha...

...To overhaul domestic league, give women's basketball gets priority By Maxwell Kumoye       Former D'Tigers captain and one of Nigeria Olympic Committee Vice Presidents Olumide Oyedeji has formally declared his intention to contest for the presidency of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), promising to end the divisions that have continued to undermine the development of the sport. Oyedeji, who is also the Secretary-General of the World Olympians Association, made his declaration on Monday, presenting himself as an experienced administrator and former elite athlete capable of uniting Nigeria's fractured basketball community and repositioning the sport for sustainable growth. The former Nigerian international said his decision was not driven by personal ambition but by what he described as a call to rebuild, reunite and reposition Nigerian basketball. With more than three decades of involvement in the game, Oyedeji believes his journey from grassroots ...

...Idubamo Pius leads individual honours as MFM completes another dominant season By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye      MFM Women’s Basketball Club have strengthened their grip on Nigerian women’s basketball, combining another league triumph with a remarkable collection of individual honours that underlined the depth and quality of the Lagos-based side. The victory over First Bank in the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League Final 8 gave MFM another national championship, but the club left the National Stadium with much more than the major trophy. They walked away with the Most Valuable Player award, the best three-point shooter prize and two places in the Team of the Tournament, among the major individual honours announced at the end of the competition. At the heart of the celebration was Idubamo Pius, whose influential campaign earned her the league’s MVP award. Idubamo capped her impressive tournament with a game-high 19 points in the championship deci...

  …First Bank awaits them in Zenith Bank League final showdown By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye           MFM Women's Basketball Club have secured their place in the Final of the Zenith Bank Women's Basketball League, at the National Stadium, Lagos, South West, Nigeria. The Yaba side maintained their unbeaten run in the League, defeating Nigeria Customs in a keenly contested match. The Captain of MFM, Okoh Ukamaka, was delighted by her side's outing today, emphasizing that the game was triple A standard. Ukamaka and Co. we're on a rampage from the very first quarter as Nigeria Customs struggled to get their acts together, bringing the scores to 22-11. The 2-time national champions, lost steam in the second quarter, as the Nigeria Customs mounted more pressure, reducing the gap to 35-34. MFM refused to back down turning on the heat in the third and fourth quarters to book their spot in the final, 64-61. Ukamaka and her squad will n...

...Teamwork is our biggest strength — Captain Okoh Ukamaka By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye , at the National Stadium, Surulere          MFM Basketball Club reaffirmed their status as one of the dominant forces in Nigerian women’s basketball after putting an end to Aso Sky Queens’ unbeaten run on Match Day 3 of the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League Final 8 Playoffs in Lagos. The result extended MFM’s remarkable unbeaten streak in the league to 17 games, while sending a clear warning ahead of the semifinals, where the two-time national champions will face Nigeria Customs. From the opening tip, MFM looked determined to impose their authority, edging the opening quarter 16-13 before stretching their advantage to 32-27 at the break. Aso Sky Queens refused to back down, staging a spirited fight in the third quarter and reducing the deficit to just three points as the Abuja side threatened to turn the game on its head. But MFM had the stronge...

By FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG   D’Tigress star Victoria Macaulay, representing Nigeria was never just about basketball. It was also a journey her father, Lanre Macaulay, followed with pride and unwavering affection. That bond has come into focus following the death of Mr. Macaulay in the United States after an illness, with FIBA Africa Zone 3 President and Executive Committee Member, Colonel Sam Ahmedu (Rtd), joining the basketball family in mourning the loss. In a message to Victoria and the Macaulay family, Ahmedu described the late Lanre as a devoted father whose passion for Nigeria extended to following his daughter’s exploits whenever she wore the national colours. Ahmedu recalled how Mr. Macaulay would travel to watch Victoria represent Nigeria, turning her international career into a shared family experience. “He was very passionate about Nigeria and loved to travel and watch you represent this country across the globe,” Ahmedu said, while urging Victoria to hold ...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Port Harcourt       Defending champions Dolphins Basketball Club finally opened their winning account in the second phase of the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League, edging Royal Aces 55–53 in a tense encounter at the Basketball Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The champions were made to work for every point as Royal Aces matched their stride for stride from the opening quarter, which ended 15–15. Dolphins, however, found some rhythm in the second quarter, outscoring their opponents 13–9 to establish a 28–24 advantage at halftime. Royal Aces refused to surrender and came out strongly after the break, winning the third quarter 14–11 to cut Dolphins’ lead to just one point at 39–38 heading into the final quarter. The closing period produced another fierce battle, with both sides trading baskets in a frantic finish. Dolphins eventually held their nerve, taking the quarter 16–15 to secure a narrow two-point victory....

...Odaudu al so questions D’Tigresses’ World Cup preparation   By Trust Ittai     Rivers Hoopers head coach, Ogoh Odaudu, has questioned the structure of Nigeria’s domestic basketball league, describing the competition as little more than a tournament because of its short duration. He gave this verdict during a television program. Odaudu, a former head coach of the D’Tigers, said the current format does little justice to players and teams who spend most of the year preparing for a competition that lasts only a couple of months. “People practise all year round just to come and play basketball for two months. It doesn’t make sense,” Odaudu said. “It’s not really a league; it’s more like a tournament. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that, but that’s how I see it.” His comments highlight one of the long-standing concerns surrounding the development of Nigeria’s domestic basketball, the lack of a sufficiently long and consistent competitive calendar capable of k...

…Oladele eyes sweep of Louis Edem, MFM Championship and Zenith League titles …Coach calls for fresh ideas to improve domestic league By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Port Harcourt       MFM Basketball Club have set their sights on an unbeaten season after another ruthless display in the Zenith Bank Women’s Premier League, with Head Coach Akinwonjowo Oladele declaring that his side are determined to sweep every major trophy available to them. MFM made their intentions clear in emphatic fashion on Wednesday, dismantling Bayelsa Blue Whales 77–21 in the opening game of the day at the Basketball Stadium in Port Harcourt. The 56-point demolition was another statement performance from a side that has made consistency and hard work the foundation of its campaign. Oladele attributed MFM’s impressive run to the discipline of his players and their commitment to maintaining high standards from one game to another. According to the coach, the team’s objective goes ...

…Defending champions suffer fifth consecutive defeat …Ngozi vows young side will return stronger By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Port Harcourt     Dolphins Basketball Club’s title defence continued to unravel in Port Harcourt as Victoria Queens handed the defending champions their fifth consecutive defeat in the second phase of the Zenith Bank Women’s Premier League. The Queens emerged 45–32 winners at the Basketball Stadium, condemning Dolphins to another frustrating outing in a campaign that has increasingly become a battle for survival rather than one of championship defence. For a team that entered the season as champions, Dolphins have found victories increasingly difficult to come by, with their youthful squad struggling to match the experience and cohesion of established opponents. Victoria took an early 13–11 lead and gradually tightened their grip on the game. Dolphins were still within five points at the interval, trailing 25–20, but failed to pro...

...Dolphins Coach Ottah draws positives from fourth defeat, promises revamped side next season By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Port Harcourt       Dolphins Basketball Club head coach, Okechukwu Ottah, has described the defending champions’ latest defeat as a source of encouragement despite suffering their fourth loss of the second phase of the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League. Dolphins went down 50–60 to Bayelsa Blue Whales, but Ottah believes the 10-point margin represents significant progress compared with the heavier defeat the champions suffered against the same opponents in the first phase. The coach pointed to improved team chemistry and growing understanding among his players as major positives from the game, insisting that the rebuilding Dolphins side is gradually taking shape. “We might be losing, but the whole team chemistry is coming well. The team are coming together. With time, we will surely be a force to reckon with,” Ottah said. Th...

…We struggled to find our rhythm – Okonkwo   By Maxwell Kumoye and Trust Ittai  France crushed African champions Nigeria 111-56 to finish top of Group B at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany, leaving the D’Tigresses winless. African champions Nigeria suffered their third consecutive defeat at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany after France produced a devastating shooting display. Nigeria struggled from the opening tip as the French side imposed its quality and tempo on the contest, leaving the D’Tigresses unable to establish any rhythm in what turned into a one-sided encounter at the Berlin Arena. France raced to 31 points in the opening quarter before adding another 34 in the second to take a commanding 65-26 lead into halftime. The French continued their dominance after the interval, scoring 30 points in the third quarter before easing off in the final period after the damage had already been done. The defeat capped a difficu...

By Maxwell Kumoye     Nigeria’s D’Tigresses suffered their second consecutive defeat at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on Saturday, going down 71-67 to Hungary in a closely fought Group B encounter. The result leaves the reigning African champions searching for answers after another frustrating outing in Berlin, with head coach Rena Wakama admitting that her side again struggled to find their rhythm early enough. Nigeria created several opportunities but failed to capitalise consistently, particularly from the free-throw line, where they converted just 12 of 23 attempts. Wakama said the team’s inability to put together a complete performance remained a major concern ahead of their final group game against France. “It was another rough game. It’s tough when your shots aren’t falling,” Wakama said. “I thought we got great looks in the first half, really, really good looks and we got to the free-throw line. But we finished the game shooting 12 of 23 from the fr...

By Maxwell Kumoye     Nigeria’s D’Tigresses have promised to return stronger when they face Hungary on Saturday after suffering a 99-81 defeat to South Korea in their opening game of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany. The result was a difficult start for the African champions, who struggled to contain a disciplined South Korean side that moved the ball efficiently and punished Nigeria’s defensive lapses throughout the game. Captain Amy Okonkwo admitted that South Korea’s movement and shooting proved difficult for D’Tigress to handle. “Today was a tough game. South Korea is a really good team. They move the ball a lot, they shoot a lot, and today we just weren't able to stop them in that regard,” Okonkwo said after the game. Head coach of D’Tigresses Rena Wakama also acknowledged that his team knew the challenge that awaited them, having faced South Korea two months earlier. According to her, South Korea’s cohesion and discipline made the...

...Inexperience, poor late-game decisions behind our drop in form — Oputa By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Port Harcourt     Hoops N’ Read’s difficult run in the Nigeria Premier Basketball League continued as the Lagos-based side suffered a fifth consecutive defeat, losing 67–64 to Gboko City Chiefs in a closely fought encounter. The defeat further deepened the club’s current struggles, with head coach Emeka Oputa admitting that inexperience and poor decision-making in the closing stages contributed significantly to the latest setback. “We will keep making adjustments, keep fighting, and we’ll see how it goes,” Oputa said after the game. Hoops N’ Read endured a difficult opening half, trailing Gboko City Chiefs 43–33 at the end of the second quarter. However, the Lagos side staged a spirited comeback and eventually moved into a double-digit lead early in the fourth quarter. But just when victory appeared within reach, Hoops N’ Read failed to manage the closi...

  By Maxwell Kumoye   With the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup tipping off in Berlin, Germany, Nigeria’s D’Tigress have received words of encouragement from basketball stakeholders and former national team stars ahead of their global campaign. FIBA Africa Zone 3 President and FIBA Africa Executive Committee member, Col. Sam Ahmedu (Rtd.), has urged the Nigerian team to continue flying the country’s flag with pride and determination at the tournament. Ahmedu, who is also a board member of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) and a former FIBA Technical Delegate, challenged the players to draw inspiration from the fighting spirit that has helped D’Tigress dominate African basketball. Nigeria has won seven African titles, including back-to-back triumphs in 2003, 2005 and from 2017 through 2025. The latest continental crown came in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in 2025. Ahmedu also reminded the players of Nigeria’s impressive performances on the global stage, part...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Port Harcourt     Captain of Hoops N’ Reads Basketball Club, Francis Anekwe, has assured fans and the Nigerian basketball community that the Lagos-based side will produce a much-improved performance in their Match Day 5 clash of the Final 8 Playoffs. Anekwe, fondly known as “Mr. Reliable,” admitted that the team’s performances so far have fallen short of expectations, with Hoops N’ Reads still searching for their first victory of the playoffs. The Lagos giants suffered their fourth consecutive defeat after a closely fought 66–60 loss to 313 Warriors, leaving them with a crucial battle ahead as they seek to keep their Final 8 campaign alive. Despite the setbacks, Anekwe expressed confidence in his teammates, insisting that the squad has the quality and determination to turn things around in their next encounter against Koko. “Hello, my people, it’s your boy, Francis Anekwe, captain of the team. We thank you for the support and...