South Africa denies Nigeria’s U18 basketball team visa for 2024 FIBA
South Africa has denied visas to Nigeria's national under-18 basketball team, preventing them from competing in the 2024 FIBA U18 Afrobasket tournament, which will take place in Cape Town from December 14 to 22.The South African Consulate in Abuja denied the male players visas.
Ugo Udezue, Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Basketball Federation, confirmed the development in a statement released on Tuesday.
Udezue, frustrated by the lack of explanation, described the move as an act of sabotage.
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This has jeopardised Nigeria's participation in the tournament, which kicks off today with a match against Egypt.
The players, who had been training in Abuja after returning from Abidjan, are devastated as their chances of competing in the FIBA World Championship fade.
Udezue stated, "First and foremost, it is unfortunate that an African country requires a visa to travel to another African country." Second, this violates the spirit of sportsmanship. These kids have made too many sacrifices for a visa consular officer to deny them the opportunity to represent Nigeria on a global scale."
In contrast, the South African Embassy in Lagos has approved visas for the girls' team, which is currently in Pretoria for a match against Egypt.
Both teams had already qualified for the tournament after winning the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers in Ivory Coast.
According to reports, the NBBF has filed complaints with FIBA Africa, the South African hosts, and Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Ministry, but efforts to resolve the issue have so far proven ineffective.
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