The Nigeria U-18 boys’ basketball team has been denied visas for the 2024 U18 FIBA Afrobasket by the South African Consulate in Abuja.
This unexpected decision threatens Nigeria’s participation in the tournament, which begins in South Africa today. The team was scheduled to play against Egypt in Pretoria later in the day of FIBA Afrobasket
The players, who had recently returned from a training camp in Abidjan, are devastated as their hopes of competing in the championship are dashed due to the visa denial.
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Ugo Udezue, Vice Chairman of the Youth Development Committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), who is already in Pretoria with the first team, expressed his shock and frustration. He criticized the move, describing it as a betrayal of sportsmanship and a serious setback for the athletes.
“It’s unfortunate that an African country needs a visa to visit another African country. This undermines the spirit of sportsmanship. These kids have made significant sacrifices, and it’s disheartening that a consular officer’s decision could prevent them from representing Nigeria on the global stage,” Udezue said.
Interestingly, the South African Embassy in Lagos approved visas for the girls’ team, who are already in Pretoria and preparing for their match against Egypt. The NBBF had submitted visa applications for both the boys’ and girls’ teams in a single letter, but only the girls were granted entry.
The NBBF has lodged complaints with FIBA Africa, the South African hosts, and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry. Despite this, the efforts to resolve the issue have not yet been successful.
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