The maiden Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA) League has ended in Abuja with TNT Basketball Academy and Oneball Academy emerging champions in the men’s and women’s categories respectively.
The two-week competition concluded on Sunday at the Package B open courts of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, with All-Star Games organised as part of the closing ceremony.
A total of 48 outstanding players, comprising 24 boys and 24 girls, were selected from participating teams to represent the ABA 2026 All-Stars.
In the men’s All-Star game, Team Red defeated Team White 60-57 to claim victory, while Team Blue secured a 22-17 win over Team Black in the women’s category.
Suleiman Yaro of Full Force Academy was named the Most Valuable Player in the men’s category, while Treasure Okoye of Oneball Academy received the women’s MVP award.
The closing ceremony also featured the presentation of trophies to TNT Basketball Academy and Oneball Academy as champions of the inaugural ABA League.
The competition brought together 40 teams from 24 basketball academies across the Federal Capital Territory and the North-Central region.
Speaking during the event, ABA Founder and President, Prof. DC Lucky Aliyu Abubakar, said the tournament demonstrated the depth of basketball talent available at the grassroots level in Nigeria.
He said the association’s focus extends beyond identifying basketball players to developing young athletes into responsible and educated members of society.
Abubakar also commended the coaches, technical officials, parents, partners, supporters and volunteers who contributed to the success of the competition.
Former D’Tigers captain and ex-NBA player Olumide Oyedeji was among the guests at the event. He commended the ABA for creating a platform that also recognises the important role of grassroots coaches in developing young basketball players.
The event ended with the presentation of a special appreciation trophy to Abubakar by members of the ABA team led by its Head of Technical Officials, Coach Adeka Daudu.
The organisers said the successful completion of the inaugural league highlighted the need for continued investment in grassroots basketball development and the creation of more opportunities for young Nigerian players.
