The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has officially announced the commencement of its U-18 Boys National Team Pre-Selection Camp as part of preparations for the forthcoming FIBA Africa U-18 Zone 3 Qualifiers scheduled to hold in Burkina Faso.
The camp, which will run from June 24 to July 3, 2026, will take place at the Indoor Hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State, and marks a crucial step in Nigeria’s strategic drive to identify and nurture the next generation of basketball stars.
According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the NBBF Technical Committee, Babs Ogunade, the exercise is part of a comprehensive development pathway designed to strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness on the continental stage.
Following an extensive nationwide scouting and evaluation exercise, a carefully selected pool of talented young players has been invited to the camp, where they will train under the supervision of Head Coach Ikima Michael and members of the technical crew.
The camp will serve as an opportunity for the coaching staff to assess the players’ technical proficiency, physical fitness, discipline, character, and overall readiness for national team duties.
At the conclusion of the exercise, a final squad will be selected to represent Nigeria at the FIBA Africa U-18 Zone 3 Qualifiers in Burkina Faso, scheduled to take place from July 2 to 15, 2026.
The Federation also unveiled an ambitious multi-stage preparation programme aimed at assembling the strongest possible squad ahead of the continental championship.
Following the Zone 3 qualifiers, selected local players will proceed to another training camp from July 16 to 25, 2026, while an additional United States Training Camp and Talent Evaluation Programme will be held in Chicago from July 23 to 25, 2026, where eligible Nigerian players in the diaspora will be assessed for possible inclusion in the national team.
Thereafter, all selected players from both Nigeria and the diaspora will converge in Côte d’Ivoire for a Final Joint Preparation Camp from July 27 to August 3, 2026, ahead of the FIBA U-18 AfroBasket Championship Finals, which will be held from August 3 to 16, 2026.
Speaking on the initiative, NBBF President Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida reaffirmed the Federation’s unwavering commitment to grassroots basketball development and youth empowerment.
“The future of Nigerian basketball lies in our ability to consistently discover and develop young talents. This U-18 camp represents another important step in our long-term vision of building sustainable pathways for our youth athletes to progress to the highest levels of the game.
“We are excited about the quality of talent emerging across the country and look forward to seeing these young players compete for the opportunity to wear the green and white,” he said.
Also speaking, National Teams General Manager Musa Adamu highlighted the significance of the programme in strengthening Nigeria’s basketball talent pipeline.
“The Federation has invested significant effort into talent identification over the past several months. The players invited to Benin City have earned this opportunity through their performances and potential.
“This camp will determine the team that represents Nigeria in Burkina Faso, while also serving as part of a broader strategy to build a competitive programme capable of succeeding at the continental level,” he stated.
The NBBF’s structured approach underscores its determination to build sustainable pathways from grassroots basketball to elite international competition by combining homegrown talents with exceptional Nigerian players based abroad.
As preparations gather momentum, the Federation has called on basketball stakeholders, coaches, parents, and fans nationwide to rally behind the young athletes as they pursue the honour of representing Nigeria on the international stage.
Camp Details
Event: NBBF U-18 Boys National Team Pre-Selection Camp
Date: June 24 – July 3, 2026
Venue: Indoor Hall, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
