Nigeria’s under-18 boys’ and girls’ national teams have arrived for Côte d’Ivoire ahead of the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket, with places at the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup at stake.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) have announced that the Junior D’Tigers and the Junior D’Tigress have Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from Abuja, Nigeria. Both teams will represent Nigeria at the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket.
The championship runs from Wednesday, 5 August, to Sunday, 16 August, 2026 at the Palais des Sports de Treichville and brings together twelve nations in each category.
The tournament carries consequences beyond the continental title. The champions and runners-up in both the boys’ and girls’ competitions will earn Africa’s places at the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Pardubice, Czechia.
Nigeria travels to Abidjan intending to be among them. Both squads were assembled through an open national camp that opened on 28 July at the Athletes High Performance Centre, Package B, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Thirty-six players were invited; the travelling delegations were selected strictly on performance in camp, with full documentation; international passports, yellow cards and birth certificates, verified before departure.
The Junior D’Tigers reached Abidjan by way of a flawless FIBA Africa Zone 3 campaign in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in July. Nigeria won all four matches, opening with a 96–35 victory over Benin and a 98–54 win over hosts Burkina Faso, before completing the double with 101–43 and 100–54 results in the return fixtures. Four games, four wins, and the zone’s automatic ticket to the finals.
The team is led by Head Coach Michael Ikima. Nigeria’s under-18 boys’ programme remains among the most decorated on the continent: six continental titles, in 1987, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. A haul matched only by Egypt, together with three bronze medals and six appearances at the FIBA U19 World Cup.
The first of those bronze medals was won in Luanda in 1980 by a Nigerian squad that included a 17-year-old Hakeem Olajuwon, in the tournament that carried him to the University of Houston and, in time, to the Naismith Hall of Fame.
The Junior D’Tigress, under Head Coach Akindele Peter, did not contest a regional qualifier for this edition. They did not need to: silver at the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket in South Africa secured direct entry to Abidjan. The squad travels as one of the most closely watched teams in the field, in a year, in which the senior D’Tigress, again lifted the Women’s AfroBasket title in this same city.
The Junior D’Tigers have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt and Chad. Group B comprises defending champions Mali, Madagascar, Gabon and Morocco, while Group C brings together Cameroon, Tunisia, Rwanda and Senegal. Mali have won three of the last five editions.
In the women’s competition the Junior D’Tigress are in Group C with Cameroon, Senegal and Tunisia. Group A is made up of hosts Côte d’Ivoire, the Central African Republic, Uganda and Kenya.
Both teams are in action on the opening day, Wednesday, 5 August, 2026, at the Palais des Sports de Treichville:
Junior D’Tigress v Tunisia — 13:30 GMT (14:30 Nigerian time)
Junior D’Tigers v Egypt — 15:00 GMT (16:00 Nigerian time)
Both delegations flew to Abidjan privately. XEJet, Official Travel Partner of the NBBF’s U18 national teams, has dedicated a private charter aircraft to the Junior D’Tigers and Junior D’Tigress for the journey and will return both squads to Nigeria at the conclusion of the championship.
The teams therefore travel direct, together, and on their own schedule, without connections, layovers or the commercial routing that has historically cost African junior sides preparation time.
The arrangement extends a partnership already tested this season: XEJet flew the boys’ team to and from the Zone 3 qualifiers in Ouagadougou, and XEJet Chief Executive Officer Mr. Emmanuel Ayuba Iza, travelled to Burkina Faso to visit the squad during the tournament.
“These young men and women have earned their place in Abidjan, and the Federation has done what it must to get them there prepared and on schedule,” said NBBF President, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida.
“We are not travelling to make up the numbers. Nigeria has a record at this age group that speaks for itself, and two places at the U19 World Cup are there to be won.
“We thank XEJet for standing with our young athletes again,” he added.
General Manager, Mr. Musa Adamu, said both delegations left Abuja fully compliant with FIBA requirements: “Every player leaving Abuja does so with passport, yellow card and birth certificate in order.
“We said there would be no exceptions and no late documentation, and there were none.
“The camp was competitive, the selections were made on merit, and Nigeria arrives in Abidjan beyond reproach.”
The Federation has placed on record its appreciation to XEJet and to every private partner whose support made the campaign possible.
JUNIOR D’TIGERS:
BOYS – Head Coach: Michael Ikima
1. Idornigie Emmanuel Oshiobugie
2. Ognonna Joshua Okeudilichukwu
3. Nwafor Victor Emeka
4. Unekwe Ekene Thankgod
5. Kayode Olakunle
6. Sunday Victor Endurance
7. John Isiah
8. Otaluwa Daniel Alhaji
9. Okoh Thomas Agbo
10. Aniegbunam Somto Jude
11. Aribo Olakunle Andrew
12. Attah James Harrison
13. Jamil Adelagun
JUNIOR D’TIGRESS:
GIRLS – Head Coach: Akindele Peter
1. Igwe Juliet Chizoba
2. Aladelua Precious Grace
3. Adelaja Zainab Adeola
4. Alaje Cecilia Sunday
5. Alli Khadijah Kuburah
6. Lawrence Becky
7. Abali Anastacia John
8. Onajomo Ogheneochuko
9. Oyedeji Oluwafimijobs Fadesikemi
10. Oyedeji Enioluwa Fadesewa
11. Owolabi Oluwatobiloba Annabel
12. Arowolo Bisola Azizat
13. Ibidunni Nimah Oluwatomisin
14. Pela Edore Ernestine
15. Anari Favour 😹
Final competition rosters are subject to confirmation at the FIBA technical meeting in Abidjan.
The 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket is a 12-nation championship in each category, staged in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 5 to 16 August 2026 at the Palais des Sports de Treichville.
The tournament doubles as the African qualifying event for the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Pardubice, Czechia. The champions and runners-up in both categories qualify.
•Nigeria (boys) qualified by winning the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Qualifiers in Ouagadougou unbeaten. Nigeria (girls) qualified directly as runners-up at the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket.
Head Coaches: Michael Ikima (Junior D’Tigers) and Akindele Peter (Junior D’Tigress).
Draw: Nigeria (boys) is in Group A with Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt and Chad. Nigeria (girls) is in Group C with Cameroon, Senegal and Tunisia.
Opening fixtures, Wednesday 5 August: Junior D’Tigress v Tunisia, 13:30 GMT; Junior D’Tigers v Egypt, 15:00 GMT. Côte d’Ivoire is on GMT; Nigerian time is GMT+1
XEJet is Official Travel Partner of the NBBF U18 national teams and is flying both delegations to Abidjan privately, on a dedicated charter aircraft, with the return leg also covered.
