Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) has expressed disappointment and frustration after South Africa denied visas to the country’s under-18 male basketball team, preventing their participation in the 2024 FIBA U18 Afrobasket tournament.
The South African Consulate in Abuja rejected the visa applications for the male players, despite both the male and female teams having qualified for the tournament through the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers in Ivory Coast.
The NBBF Vice Chairman, Ugo Udezue, confirmed the visa denial in a statement on Tuesday, describing it as a form of sabotage. He criticized the lack of explanation provided by South African authorities for the decision.
The denial has jeopardized Nigeria’s chances in the tournament, which began today with a match against Egypt. However, the female Nigerian team, who were granted visas by the South African Embassy in Lagos, is currently in Pretoria to compete against Egypt.
The NBBF has filed complaints with FIBA Africa, the South African hosts, and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, but efforts to resolve the issue have been unsuccessful so far.
