Players of the Nigeria U-18 boys’ basketball team have been denied visas to the 2024 FIBA U18 Afrobasket.
by the South African Consulate at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
This decision has jeopardised Nigeria’s trip to the biennial tournament starting in South Africa on Tuesday (today), with Nigeria billed to face Egypt in Pretoria later in the day.
The players, who trained and camped in Abuja on return from Abidjan, are in total shock, tears, and pain as they watch their dreams of being at the FIBA World Championship fade on account of the South Africans denying them entry.
The Vice Chairman of the Youth Development Committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Ugo Udezue, who is already in Pretoria with the first team, was shocked when he was alerted on the development. He sees the development as a total sabotage.
He said, “First of all, it’s rather unfortunate that an African country needs a visa to travel to…