Youth Basketball Shines as FIBA Africa Zone 3 Academies Tournament Tips Off in Lagos

The city of Lagos is buzzing with excitement as the inaugural FIBA Africa Zone 3 Academies Tournament dunked off on July 5, 2025, bringing together rising stars of basketball from across the region.

Hosted at the indoor gymnasium of the Dolphins Female Basketball Foundation, the four-day event is scheduled to run until July 8, and has already established itself as a landmark moment in youth basketball development.

Despite the absence of some expected teams, the tournament has gathered 21 academy teams—14 male and 7 female sides from across Nigeria—vying for glory and development.

The boys’ teams are competing in group stages, while the girls are playing in a round-robin format. From the opening whistle, the court has been a hive of youthful energy, skill, and ambition.

Day one served up a string of intense contests, setting a competitive tone for the rest of the tournament.

Hoopsdream opened their campaign with a commanding 37–10 victory over Vedione, while Maktown overcame O’Connell 15–7.

M2 Academy edged TABA in one of the closest matches of the day, winning 22–20. On the girls’ side, TABA (Female) narrowly defeated Raptors (Female) 9–5 in a tightly contested game.

Elsewhere, Impression snatched a 16–15 win over Warriors, while Raptors displayed dominance in their 21–12 triumph over Beavers.

LeoKareem made a statement with a solid 12–2 win against Lion Den, and in the female bracket, Impression defeated McSpencer 11–6. Anjorin was one of the standout performers of the day, dismantling TABA 28–5 and later overcoming M2 Academy 17–13.

Meanwhile, Warlord scraped past Warriors 13–11 and returned later in the day to outlast Impression in a dramatic 19–18 battle.

Raptors continued their strong form by holding off a spirited challenge from Hoopsdream to win 19–16, while Maktown secured another victory by defeating Lion Den 19–13.

In the final girls’ fixture of the day, Victoria Queens beat Raptors (Female) 11–4, closing day one on a high note for the tournament organisers and supporters.

Beyond the scores and statistics, the tournament has been hailed as more than just a competition—it is a celebration of potential and an investment in the future of basketball in West Africa.

With Nigeria’s remarkable youth basketball pedigree—including 11 appearances at the U18 African Championship, six golds, and three silver medals—the tournament is a continuation of the country’s strong commitment to grassroots development.

Côte d’Ivoire also boasts an impressive record with two silver medals in the U18 women’s category from five appearances, while Benin Republic looks to bounce back from a lowly finish in 2022.

Organisers believe this event marks a turning point for basketball in FIBA Africa’s Zone 3, which includes Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Liberia. As the games continue, fans, scouts, and coaches are keenly watching what many see as the future stars of African basketball in action.

The FIBA Zone 3 Academies Tournament in Lagos is proving to be more than just a gathering of youth teams—it is fast becoming a cornerstone in the region’s sporting calendar and a platform for the next generation of champions.