Nigeria faces race against time for Africa Women’s Basketball League Qualifiers

By Maxwell Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye

Nigeria could be facing a race against time to secure a place in the Africa Women’s Basketball League after Zone 3 confirmed that its preliminary competition will take place in Monrovia, Liberia, from October 4 to 10, 2026.

The development is likely to raise concerns over Nigeria’s participation, particularly as the country’s domestic women’s basketball league is yet to be concluded, leaving little time for clubs to prepare and meet the requirements for continental competition.

In a communication signed by Léa Kane, Head of Competitions, Africa, Zone 3 informed national federations of the preliminary tournament and urged interested federations to begin the necessary formalities immediately.

Four teams are currently listed for the Zone 3 preliminary tournament:

(i) Energie Basketball Club of Benin

(ii) Flames Basketball

(iii) D-Rockas Basketball Club of Liberia

(iv) Friends Basketball Association of Côte d’Ivoire

Two teams from the Monrovia tournament will qualify for the final round scheduled for Alexandria, Egypt, from December 11 to 20.

However, Nigeria is conspicuously absent from the list of registered teams released by Zone 3.

The zone has consequently given national federations that have not yet registered but are interested in participating until September 10, 2026, to submit their participation forms.

With the deadline just days away, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) will have to move quickly if it intends to enter a Nigerian club in the competition.

The timing could prove challenging, given that Nigeria’s domestic women’s basketball season has not been decided, potentially leaving the federation with limited options for identifying a club that can adequately prepare for the continental assignment.

The Africa Women’s Basketball League remains one of the continent’s major club competitions, making Nigeria’s potential absence from the preliminary stage a significant concern for the country’s women’s basketball programme.

For now, Nigeria’s participation has not been confirmed, while the September 10 registration deadline leaves a narrow window for the country to make its position known.