South Africa has denied visas to the Nigerian junior basketball team, known as the Junior D’Tigers, preventing their participation in the upcoming AfroBasket tournament.

The Nigeria U-18 boys' basketball team has been denied visas to participate in the 2024 FIBA U18 Afrobasket by the South African Consulate in Abuja.

This decision has put Nigeria's participation in the tournament, which begins today in South Africa, at risk, as the team is scheduled to compete against Egypt in Pretoria later today.

The players, who had been training and preparing in Abuja after returning from Abidjan, are devastated and in disbelief as their aspirations of competing in the FIBA World Championship slip away due to the visa denial.

Ugo Udezue, Vice Chairman of the Youth Development Committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, who is currently in Pretoria with the senior team, expressed his shock at the news, viewing it as a significant setback.

He stated, “It is unfortunate that an African nation requires a visa to enter another African nation. This undermines the spirit of sportsmanship.

These young athletes have made tremendous sacrifices, and it is disheartening for a consular officer to deny them the chance to represent Nigeria on an international stage.”

The refusal of visas appears to be a targeted effort to hinder the Junior D’Tigers, especially since the South African Embassy in Lagos approved the girls' travel, and they are already in Pretoria preparing for their match against Egypt. Both teams had previously excelled in the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers in Ivory Coast.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation submitted the names of both teams in a single correspondence to the embassy. Reports indicate that the NBBF has lodged complaints with FIBA Africa, the South African hosts, and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the outreach from South African officials in Pretoria has yielded minimal results.