The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has announced the commencement of the U-18 Boys National Team Pre-Selection Camp as part of preparations for the upcoming FIBA Africa U-18 Zone 3 Qualifiers in Burkina Faso.
According to a statement signed by Chairman of the NBBF Technical Committee, Babs Ogunade, the camp will take place from June 24 to July 3, 2026, at the Indoor Hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
The camp represents a key stage in the federation’s efforts to identify and develop young basketball talents across the country ahead of international competitions.
Following an extensive nationwide scouting and evaluation exercise, a selected group of promising players has been invited to participate in the programme under the supervision of head coach Ikima Michael and his technical crew.
The pre-selection camp will allow the coaching staff to assess the players’ technical skills, physical fitness, character, and overall readiness for national team duties. At the end of the exercise, the final squad that will represent Nigeria at the FIBA Africa U-18 Zone 3 Qualifiers, scheduled for July 2 to 15, 2026, in Burkina Faso, will be announced.
The NBBF stated that the Benin City camp is part of a broader preparation strategy aimed at ensuring Nigeria is well-positioned for success on the continental stage.
Following the qualifiers, selected home-based players will continue preparations in a training camp scheduled for July 16 to 25, 2026.
The federation will also organize a United States Training Camp and Talent Evaluation Programme in Chicago from July 23 to 25, 2026, where eligible Nigerian diaspora players will be assessed for possible inclusion in the national team.
Thereafter, all selected players from both Nigeria and the diaspora will converge in Côte d’Ivoire for a Final Joint Preparation Camp from July 27 to August 3, 2026, ahead of the FIBA U-18 AfroBasket Championship Finals scheduled to take place in Côte d’Ivoire from August 3 to 16, 2026.
The federation remains optimistic that the comprehensive preparation programme will help Nigeria field a strong and competitive team capable of excelling at the continental championship.
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