Stakeholders have attributed Nigeria’s underwhelming performance in basketball to unstable administration, inadequate funding, and the lack of a functional professional league.
The concerns follow Nigeria’s early elimination from the 2025 FIBA Men’s Afrobasket Championship in Angola, where D’Tigers ended their campaign in fifth place after suffering a 91–75 quarter-final defeat to Senegal at the Pavilhão Multiusos Arena in Luanda.
Basketball promoter and founder of the Mark D’Ball Championship, Igoche Mark, described the situation as alarming. He said years of policy inconsistency and weak leadership have left the game in disarray. “Enough is enough. We cannot continue like this. Since 2017, we have not had a proper domestic league. Basketball in Nigeria has no structure, no direction. The time for politics is over—basketball must return to the courts, not the courtrooms,” he said. Mark urged the National Sports Commission to step in decisively, warning that Nigeria is losing talented players to other nations because of the lack of opportunities at home.
Former national team captain, Olumide Oyedeji, also voiced concern, stressing that without grassroots development and a vibrant local league, the country’s competitiveness in Africa and beyond will continue to decline. “We are only recycling talent, not discovering new stars,” he told NAN.
The 2025 Afrobasket Championship, held from August 15 to 24 in Angola, featured 16 nations and served as a qualifier for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Once a dominant force in African basketball and champions in 2015, Nigeria struggled during the group stages and could not withstand the Senegalese team’s tactical edge in the knockout phase.
Analysts say the signs of decline have been evident for years, citing protracted leadership tussles within the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). Sports development consultant, Tunde Popoola, added that the nation’s basketball infrastructure is outdated. “Countries like South Sudan, Rwanda, and Cape Verde are investing heavily in their leagues and seeing results. Nigeria, on the other hand, remains stuck in crisis mode,” he said.
Fans and ex-players have also expressed their disappointment on social media, calling for greater accountability from sports authorities. With criticism mounting, stakeholders maintain that only strong leadership, government support, and a clear roadmap can restore Nigerian basketball to its former glory.