Sports
Afrobasket Championships: Stakeholders Laud D’ Tigers
Basketball stakeholders have commended the silver winning senior national basketball men’s team, D’Tigers for their performance at the just concluded Senegal-Tunisia 2017 Afrobasket Ball Championship.
The stakeholders in separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos on Monday called for early preparation of the team towards the World Cup.
Tidesports source gathered that Nigeria’s D’Tigers were defeated by host nation, Tunisia, 65 -77 in the final of the championship, which held from Sept. 8 to Sept. 16 in Tunis.
In spite of the loss at the final, Nigeria currently occupies the first position in the FIBA world ranking for African teams.
The team recorded four wins out of the six matches played with the team’s captain, Ike Diogu emerging as the Most Valuable Player award winner for the competition.
Giogu’s team mate, Ikenna Iroegbu, was one of the best players in the tournament along with Mohamed Hadidane(Tunisia), Mourad El Mabrouk (Tunisia) and Gorgui Dieng(Senegal).
The Musa Kida-led Nigeria Basketball Board Federation (NBBF) also were praised for their efforts in the short time of putting the team together.
However, some stakeholders blamed the loss at the final to the drop of 14 players from the victorious 2015 team. The stakeholders told newsmen that inadequate preparations also affected the performance of the team and called for better preparations ahead of the world cup qualifications. Femi Adefeso, a sports analyst, told newsmen that the team had done well reaching the final but it was obvious in the final that Tunisia was the better prepared team.
“We played very well but fell due to the over dependence on Ike Diogu, the team captain, who was astonishing in the championship.
“Perhaps a few players from the victorious 2015 set could have made a big difference because of their experience but it is indeed a big lesson for future competitions.
“The NBBF board must be conscious of the fact that good preparations can engineer a perfect tournament as it is obvious that Nigeria is not lacking in quality in basketball,’’ Adefesao said.
Also, Adedamilola Adedotun of Bball Nija said that the team did well but were little short of firing power as compared to the Tunisians.
He urged the NBBF to open camp early in preparation for the World Cup qualifiers and ensure that more players are invited in order to select the very best to represent Nigeria.
“The team did well considering it was the first time for most of the players in the African championship; however there is no excuse for failure.
“Going ahead to the World Cup qualifications, there should be early camping in order for players to come and fight for jerseys.
“Overall, I congratulate the players and their coaching crew for their efforts; they did not let the nation down perhaps next edition they will do better,’’ Adedotun said. Speaking in the same vein, Dapo Ajeniya, a fan of D’Tigers, said that the team was simply unlucky against the Tunisians after putting up a splendid performance against the Senegalese in the semifinals.
“One was hoping that D’Tigers would do what the female senior team, D’Tigress, achieved in Mali when they defeated Senegal in the final to become Africa Queens.
“We should shift our focus to the World cup preparations and hopefully invite more players without any form of bias and sentiments; the best players should represent us,’’ Ajeniya said.
According to Tidesports source that the 2019 World Cup preparations on the FIBA calendar is to begin on Nov. 20.
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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