The team’s visas were denied by the South African Consulate in Abuja, despite the team having previously cleared the necessary requirements.
Abuja, Nigeria – The South African government has denied visas to Nigeria’s national under-18 basketball team, just days before the start of the 2024 FIBA U18 Afrobasket tournament in Cape Town. The Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) has expressed disappointment and frustration at the sudden denial of visas, citing no explanation for the decision.
The Vice Chairman of the Youth Development Committee of the NBBF, Ugo Udezue, described the South African government’s actions as “total sabotage”. The team’s visas were denied by the South African Consulate in Abuja, despite the team having previously cleared the necessary requirements.
The denial of visas has thrown a wrench into Nigeria’s plans to participate in the biennial tournament, which is set to kick off today. The team was scheduled to face Egypt in Pretoria today, but without the necessary visas, they will be unable to travel. The players are said to be in shock, tears, and pain as they watch their dreams of competing at the FIBA World Championship fade away.
Ugo Udezue lamented the situation, saying: “It’s unfortunate that an African country needs a visa to travel to another African country. This is against the spirit of sportsmanship. These kids have sacrificed too much for a visa consular officer to deny them the opportunity to represent Nigeria globally.”
The NBBF has sent complaints to FIBA Africa, the South African hosts, and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, but so far, there has been no response. The situation has raised questions about the treatment of Nigerian athletes by their African counterparts and the need for improved cooperation between African nations.
The NBBF had previously cleared the names of both boys and girls in a single letter to the South African Embassy in Lagos, which had approved their travel. However, it seems that the South African Consulate in Abuja has taken a different stance. The team was camped in Abuja before their training and camped in Abidjan on return from Ivory Coast where they finished as winners of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers.
The incident has sparked outrage among fans and officials alike, with many calling for an explanation from the South African government. The fate of Nigeria’s U18 basketball team remains uncertain, with no clear indication of whether they will be able to participate in the tournament or not.
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