Sports
Female Basketball League Excites Fans
Basketball fans leapt with joy after they watched First Deepwater Basketball Club of Lagos defeat city rivals First Bank 65-57 to retain the 7th Zenith Bank Female Basketball Championship title over the weekend.
What is significant about the victory is that First Bank who lost the title it held for five consecutive years to First Deepwater in 2010, again missed regaining it this year, signalling a wind of change in the country’s basketball.
Followers of the game before the final phase of the competition dunked off on October 20 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, had said that the era of one team dominance had gone.
It will be recalled that First Deepwater had led the first Phase in Kano and the second Phase in Akure.
Even the coach of First Deepwater, Lateef Erinfolami, said that his team had prepared adequately to retain the championship’s title because he knew that basketball has grown to a point where no team is regarded as a minnow.
Erinfolami, overwhelmed with joy, praised his players for their good showing in the competition, especially Nkechi Akachili who won the Highest Scorer and Most Valuable Player. He promised to ensure that the team retained the title in 2012.
First Bank coach Adewunmi Aderemi also told the Tidesports prior to the competition, that he was coming to regain the title and that in doing that, he was not leaving anything to chance since any team could spring surprises.
Although disappointed with not clinching the trophy, which he attributed to his girls not playing to instruction, Aderemi admitted that the competition was well organised and that officiating was unbiased.
According to him, it showed that the game is now fast growing and becoming more competitive, giving every team the opportunity to have a shot at the title.
The President, Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Tijani Umar said that the standard of the competition had improved over the years and expressed delight with the quality of the players whom, he noted, would be selected to join the national team.
He thanked the sponsors for their continued support which led to the winners getting N1 million as against the previous N750,000; the second position which used to get N500,000 got N750,000 and the third occupied by Sunshine Angels of Akure were given N500,000— up from N350,000. “I hope the cordial relationship between the NBBF and the sponsors continues to blossom for the good of the game,” Umar said. Some of the fans told Tidesport that they were surprised at the quality of the game by the participating teams, saying it was of international standard.
They said that if a young club like First Deepwater that was appearing for the third time could win the title back to back, it meant the game was progressing.
Tidesports reports that other clubs that competed in the league were Nigeria Customs of Lagos, Dolphins of Lagos, Delta Force of Asaba, Sunshine Angels of Akure, FCT Angels, AHIP Queens of Kano, Plateau Rocks and Nigeria Immigration of Kano.
Other teams officials who spoke to Tidesports commended the unbiased officiating of the tournament and called on the NBBF to regularly train and re-train the officials to update them with the latest rules and regulations of the sport.Tidesports reports that there was no incidence of violence recorded during the competition as adequate security was provided. The champions, First Deepwater and runners-up First Bank, will represent Nigeria in the Africa Club Championship at a yet to be determined venue and date.
Pics 1: Fencing in action.
President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, has said the country will host a unique 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships as the first sub-Saharan nation to stage the tournament, Tidesports source reports.
The championship will be held in Lagos from August 9 to 14, with the federation announcing that Rugby School Nigeria will host the event.
The Commonwealth Fencing Federation formally awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 championships to Nigeria in March 2025.
“It is the third international tournament the country will host, having also become the first to stage a junior épée World Cup, which was held in Lagos in December 2024. Nigeria also hosted the 23rd African Fencing Championships last year.
Nigeria’s hosting will be unique in several ways. First, it will be the inaugural edition on African soil, giving it historic significance. Second, we are integrating development initiatives such as an international training camp to foster technical exchange. Finally, the event will showcase African hospitality, culture, and energy, offering athletes a rich experience beyond the competition,” Samuel said on Wednesday.
“Preparations have advanced steadily across competition planning, venue readiness, logistics, athlete services, and partnerships.”
He also noted that over 24 Commonwealth nations have already registered.
“We are organising a pre-championship international training camp in Lagos to unite athletes ahead of the competition. Everything is moving in the right direction, and our focus is on delivering a world-class event that reflects Nigeria’s ability to host major international tournaments.”
The last two tournaments hosted by Nigeria were held at Charterhouse Lagos, and Samuel explained the choice of Rugby School Nigeria for this championship.
“The venue was selected for its modern, state-of-the-art facilities and its proximity to hospitality, tourism, and entertainment hubs. This ensures athletes and officials will enjoy excellent accommodation, transport, and leisure options during their stay.”
While thanking the private sector for its support in organising the championship, the president also called for greater government intervention in the fast-growing sport.
“The private sector has shown encouraging support, with institutions like Rugby School Nigeria and companies such as Flour Mills of Nigeria backing the championships. However, stronger government involvement is needed. Hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships is a milestone achievement, and we believe institutional support will help Nigeria maximise the opportunity and deliver a truly memorable event.”
The final draw was concluded at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday and posted on the body’s website.
Notably, hosts Morocco will face a North African showdown in Group A, drawn alongside Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, making Group A particularly competitive.
Group B features former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, alongside Uganda and debutants DR Congo.
In Group C, 2015 and 2017 champions and last year’s runners-up, Mali, will meet Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Group D is led by 2023 champions Senegal, who will face South Africa (2015 runners-up),
The eight quarter-finalists from the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
The teams finishing third in each group will contest two play-off matches to determine the final two qualifiers, bringing the total number of African representatives at the global finals to ten nations.
2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations – Groups:
- Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
- Group B: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
- Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique
- Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana
Tidesports source reports that Nigeria will not feature at the tournament for the second consecutive edition.
The Golden Eaglets suffered a 2-0 defeat to rivals Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers in September 2025, dashing their hopes of advancing to the finals.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin their title defence at the 2026 Unity Cup with a semi-final clash against Zimbabwe on May 26 at The Valley in South London, Tidesports source reports.
The four-nation tournament, which also features Jamaica and India, returns to its historic venue after the success of the 2025 edition in Brentford, where Nigeria emerged champions.
The competition, scheduled to run from May 26 to 30, blends elite football with cultural celebration, bringing together Afrocentric and global diaspora communities.
Nigeria’s opening fixture against Zimbabwe serves as a rematch of their recent encounters in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, setting the stage for a highly competitive contest.
The winner will progress to the final on May 30, while the second semi-final between Jamaica and India will be played a day later.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ chances while acknowledging the quality of the opposition.
“The Nigeria Football Federation is pleased with another opportunity to see the Super Eagles compete at the highly exciting and entertaining Unity Cup Tournament,” Gusau said.
“As perennial champions, the Super Eagles will look to retain their title again this summer, even as they will not underrate the other participating teams viz India, Jamaica and Zimbabwe. The tournament promises to be explosive and that is the setting in which the Super Eagles thrive best.”
The Unity Cup will culminate in a finals day featuring both the third-place play-off and the final, alongside a festival atmosphere that includes cultural showcases, food exhibitions, and live performances.
Zimbabwe Football Association president Nqobile Magwizi described his nation’s participation as a landmark moment, highlighting the opportunity to compete on an international stage in England for the first time.
“The Unity Cup represents far more than a celebration of football and culture, it is a powerful platform that reflects Zimbabwe football’s growing ambition to compete, perform, and excel on the global stage,” Magwizi said.
With Nigeria seeking to retain their crown and rivals eager to make their mark, the opening clash against Zimbabwe is expected to set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested and culturally vibrant tournament.
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