FIBA U18 Afrobasket: South Africa denies Nigeria visa

The national under-18 basketball team of Nigeria has been denied visas by the South African government to compete in the 2024 FIBA U18 Afrobasket competition, which is set to take place in Cape Town from December 14 to 22.

Officially confirming the development, the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) expressed shock and astonishment over the abrupt refusal of visas, claiming it was carried out without justification.

Ugo Udezue, the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Basketball Federation's Youth Development Committee, called South Africa's activities "total sabotage." according to a report by Sahara Reports.

The South African Consulate in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, refused the players' visas.

Nigeria was scheduled to play Egypt in Pretoria later that day, but the decision has put the country's participation in the biannual event, which is set to begin in South Africa, in jeopardy.

The players, who practiced and camped in Abuja after returning from Abidjan, are reportedly in complete astonishment, inconsolable, and in agony as they witness their hopes of attending the FIBA World Championship vanish because South Africa has refused to let them in.

Since the South African Embassy in Lagos gave the girls permission to fly and they are already in Pretoria ready for their opening game against Egypt, it appears that the act of refusing the team visas was done on purpose in an effort to stop the Junior D'Tigers.

On their way back from Ivory Coast, where both teams won the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers, the girls were camping in Lagos.

The boys' and girls' names were provided to the embassy by the NBBF in a single letter.

It was discovered that the NBBF had already lodged a complaint with the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Nigeria, the South African hosts, and FIBA Africa.

There had been little to no effect from the calls that South African officials from Pretoria had made.