The return of Nigeria’s men’s and women’s under-18 basketball teams, the J’Tigers and J’Tigress, has been delayed due to a hiccup with their carrier, Kenya Airways. Originally scheduled to arrive in the country on Monday morning, their return was postponed due to a delay caused by the airline.
Ugo Udezue, the Nigerian delegation leader at the recently held Afrobasket U18 Championship in South Africa, had confirmed the teams’ return schedule as early as Sunday. However, an updated message from the Kenya Airways office in Lagos late Sunday night indicated that the flight had been delayed by two hours, without specifying the reason for the delay.
The J’Tigress will return home with a ticket to the FIBA U19 World Cup to be held in the Czech Republic from July 12-20, 2025. The J’Tigress lost the final match to Mali 76-56 on Saturday. The J’Tigers failed to reach the finals as they were defeated by Mali in the semi-finals on Friday. Mali managed to defend their top spot by beating Cameroon 60-51 in the finals on Saturday.
Both finalist teams will represent Africa at the global event. This unexpected delay does not detract from the remarkable performance of the Nigerian teams at the Afrobasket U18 Championship. Despite this setback, the J’Tigers and J’Tigress demonstrated their talent and determination on the court, highlighting the promising potential of basketball on an international scale in Nigeria.
This enriching experience will undoubtedly serve them well in their sporting journey and help them prepare for the challenges ahead. Basketball in Nigeria continues to grow and assert itself on the world stage, with teams like the J’Tigers and J’Tigress flying the flag for the country, inspiring the next generation of basketball players to reach new heights.