Nigeria’s girls’s wheelchair basketball group delivered a historic efficiency to ebook their place on the 2026 Commonwealth Video games, defeating South Africa 8–3 within the ultimate of the IWBF Africa 3×3 Qualifiers in Luanda, Angola.
The victory ensured Nigeria claimed Africa’s sole ticket within the girls’s occasion, marking a big milestone for the nation’s wheelchair basketball programme.
It was additionally a candy second of redemption, because the group overturned an earlier 5–2 group-stage defeat to the identical South African aspect.
Talking in an unique chat with Sports247 after the triumph, President of the Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation, Seyi Johnson, expressed satisfaction within the group’s achievement and their preparation for the match.
“We’re pleased with our efficiency. We ready for this nice event, and I believed a lot in my gamers,” Johnson mentioned.
“I really feel so good and enthusiastic about this historic qualification for the Commonwealth Video games. It’s a nice response towards South Africa as a result of we knew we might win, and the group delivered convincingly.”
He additionally acknowledged the position of institutional assist within the group’s success, highlighting the significance of continued backing from the Nationwide Sports activities Fee.
Nigeria’s males’s wheelchair basketball group, nonetheless, fell quick in their very own ultimate, shedding 13–8 to South Africa in a carefully contested encounter.
Regardless of the defeat, Johnson stays optimistic about their possibilities of nonetheless making it to the Commonwealth Video games.
“Although the lads fell quick, we’re not completely dissatisfied. They will nonetheless qualify by way of the wildcard window. By reaching the ultimate, we stand a robust probability, and we’re hopeful our expectations will probably be met,” he added.
Each Nigerian groups had impressed all through the match, which ran from March 22 to March 26 in Luanda, overcoming robust opposition to achieve their respective finals.
Standout gamers resembling Shittu Musbau and Olabisi Ijigbamigbe performed key roles in Nigeria’s marketing campaign, contributing considerably to the group’s success.
The qualification highlights Nigeria’s rising presence in wheelchair basketball on the African stage and units the tone for what guarantees to be a aggressive outing on the 2026 Commonwealth Video games.
