Players of the Nigeria U-18 boys’ basketball team have faced a significant setback as their visas for the 2024 FIBA U18 Afrobasket have been denied by the South African Consulate in Abuja.
This unexpected decision jeopardizes Nigeria’s participation in the tournament, which kicks off in South Africa today, with a crucial match against Egypt scheduled later in the day.
The players, who recently returned from a training camp in Abidjan to prepare for this prestigious event, are devastated as their aspirations of competing on a global stage begin to slip away due to the visa denial.
Ugo Udezue, Vice Chairman of the Youth Development Committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, expressed his dismay upon learning of the news while already in Pretoria with the first team. He described the situation as a serious setback for the team, highlighting the unfortunate nature of requiring visas for travel between African nations. Udezue emphasized that this decision undermines the spirit of sportsmanship and the hard work the young athletes have invested in their training.
The decision to deny visas appears to be a targeted action, particularly as the South African Embassy in Lagos approved travel for the girls’ team, who are already in Pretoria preparing for their opening match against Egypt. Both teams had excelled in the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers held in Ivory Coast.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) had submitted a single visa application for both the boys’ and girls’ teams to the embassy. In response to the troubling visa situation, the NBBF has lodged complaints with FIBA Africa, the South African hosts, and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, efforts to resolve the issue through discussions with South African officials in Pretoria have yielded little progress.
