We are recalling all foreign players that have ever played in the League, telling about foreign championships and National teams of different countries in World basketball map project. Today we are moving to Nigeria.
Population: 206,7 mln
Players in the history of League: 8.
Full list of players: Andrew Adeleke, Josh Akognon, Suleiman Braimoh, Ekene Ibekwe, Olaseni Lawal, Ejike Ugboaja, Michael Umeh, Benjamin Eze.
First basketball players from most populated country of Africa are Josh Akognon and forward Ejike Ugboaja. In 2009/10 season Akognon was playing for Kalev (5 games, 15,0 points per game), and Ugboaja was playing for Azovmash (3 games, 6,3 points per game).
In 2010/11 season forward Benjamin Eze was wearing Khimki’s jersey. The player spent 7 games (8,7 points and 4,3 rebounds on average) and left Moscow club before their VTB League championship.
The most successful Nigerian players in the history of the VTB League are Ekene Ibekwe and Suleiman Braimoh. Ibekwe who was playing for Krasnyi Oktyabr was fourth top scorer of the 15/16 season in VTB League (17,6 points) while Braimoh who spent 50 games for Enisey since 2016 till 2018 became sixth man of the year in 2016/17 season.
Two of 8 Nigerian representatives in VTB United League were born in California, USA. Josh Akongan’s hometown is Greenbrier and Ekene Ibekwe was born in Los Angeles.
Basketball in Nigeria
League: Nigerian Premier League
Founded: –
Number of teams: 16
League’s web-site: –
There are 16 teams in Nigerian championship that is divided into 2 conferences: Savannah Conference and Atlantic Conference. The majority of teams are from Lagos (4 teams) and Abuja(2 teams).
Final stage of the tournament is called NBBF President Cup and is held in Final Four form. The semi-finals winners meet in final while teams that lost play in 3rd place game.
In 2019 Rivers Hoopers became NBBF President Cup champions. This team is the only Nigerian representative in Basketball Africa League, the most prestigious African club tournament.
The most titled Nigerian team is Kano Pillars. Kano team became Nigerian champions 6 times and took FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup bronze medals twice (1985, 1987).
Until 2017 DSTV has been League’s sponsor and championship was called DSTV Premier Basketball League. Since 2017 enterprise Kwesé Sports is Nigerian championship sponsor. The 4-year contract between Nigerian Basketball Federation and Kwesé Sports was formed (till 2021, the price of the deal is 12 mln dollars).
Interesting fact
Some NBA stars have Nigerian roots but play for other National teams. Among many of them: Giannis Antetokounmpo (parents from Nigeria), Victor Oladipo (mother from Nigeria), Andre Iguodala (Nigerian father), Deandre Ayton (Nigerian father), Bam Adebayo (Nigerian parents), O.G. Anunoby (Both from Nigeria) and Jahlil Okafor (grandfather from Nigeria).
Nigeria National team
FIBA rank: 23
FIBA members: since 1964
Achievements: Afrobasket champions (2015), 2 Olympic Games participations (2012, 2016), 3 World Cup participations (1998, 2006, 2019)
Nigeria became FIBA member in 1964, but the biggest achievements were gained in 21st century. Throughout last 20 years Nigeria National team became Afrobasket medalists 5 times, participated in Olympic Games and World Cup two times.
The gold medals on Afrobasket 2015 is considered the biggest Nigerian success. Back then D’Tigers beat Mozambique (83:47), Gabon (88:64), Senegal (88:79 OT) and Angola (74:65). Two Nigerian team members – Chamberlain Oguchi (tournament MVP) and Al-Farouq Aminu were included in Afrobasket symbolic starting five 2015.
There are some significant wins in Nigerian history – victory over Serbia (82:75) on Word Cup 2006, wins over Lithuania (86:80) and Greece (80:79) during Olympic Games qualification round 2012, and moreover, victory against Croatia (90:76) on 2016 Olympic games.
Nowadays Nigeria National team is ranked 23rd by FIBA, being the strongest African National team.
The most famous Nigerian players in history
Hakeem Olajuwon. Born in Lagos, the first pick of legendary 1984 NBA Draft, 1996 Olympic Games champion, 2-time NBA Champion, 2-time NBA finals MVP, NBA regular season MVP and 12-time NBA All-Star. In 2008 Olajuwon entered Basketball Hall of Fame and in 2016 became FIBA Hall of Fame member.
Michael Olowokandi. The second Nigerian player after Hakeem Olajuwon to be selected with the first pick of NBA Draft (1998). The Center spent 9 seasons in the NBA and participated approximately in 500 games (8,3 points and 6,8 rebounds on average).
Ike Diogu. 2017 Afrobasket MVP, 2015 Afrobasket champion and Afrobasket 2017 silver medalist. Diogu was selected with the 9th pick of 2005 NBA drift, he has 6 NBA season for 6 different teams.
Aime Udoka. Afrobasket bronze medalist (2005, 2011) as Nigeria National team player, spent 7 seasons in the NBA. In 2014 Aime Udoka became an NBA champion as San Antonio Spurs head coach assistant.
Al-Farouq Aminu. Afrobasket 2015 Champion, McDonald’s All-American participant (2008), 8th pick of 2010 NBA Draft. Aminu is the first African player that played in NBA at least for 10 seasons.
Dmitriy Kolinov
