The president of the Basketball Federation, Musa Kida, reiterates the importance of the calendar of the NBBF U18 program

the president of Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF)Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida has reiterated that the body’s under 18 program which was released during the week is aimed at ensuring that the country gets adequate representation at the international level.

Sports247 reports that Kida went on to reveal that the NBBF is committed to enhancing the development of Nigerian basketball with adequate opportunities for players, both male and female, to further develop in the country and abroad.

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He went on to explain that internal and external objectives informed the publication of an elaborate schedule for the country’s men’s and women’s national teams in the FIBA ​​Africa U18 Championship 2026 and other competitions.

The NBBF boss further noted that in line with the federation’s commitment to creating opportunities for Nigerian athletes around the world, a training and evaluation camp for Nigerian players will be held in Chicago, USA from July 24 to 26.

Kida stated that the camp will provide an opportunity for eligible Nigerian players based abroad to compete for spots on final rosters, while strengthening the connection between the NBBF and its growing talent pool in the diaspora.

In the final preparation phase, all selected players from Nigeria and the diaspora will gather in Ivory Coast from July 27 to August 2 for a joint camp that will focus on team chemistry, tactical preparation and integration of the final squad.

Both the men’s and women’s national teams will compete at the 2026 FIBA ​​U18 Afrobasket Finals in Ivory Coast from August 3 to 16, highlighting the NBBF’s commitment to youth development and the search for future national team players.

Kida added: “This program is designed to identify talent in Nigeria, provide opportunities to our diaspora players and ensure that our teams receive the proper preparation needed to compete successfully on the continental stage.

“The future of Nigerian basketball lies in the development of young athletes. The addition of Benin City to our testing locations demonstrates our commitment to expanding access and discovering talent from all parts of the country.”