SOUTH AFRICA DENIES NIGERIA’S JUNIOR BASKETBALL TEAM VISA FOR 2024 FIBA

Nigerian Under-18 boys’ basketball players have been denied visas  by the South African Consulate in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Nigeria is billed to face Egypt at the 2024 FIBA U-18 Afrobasket competition scheduled to hold in Pretoria yesterday but the development has jeopardized Nigeria’s trip.

The  Vice Chairman of the Youth Development Committee of the Nigerian Basketball Federation, NBBF,  UGO UDEZUE, expressed disappointment, citing a lack of explanation for the visa denial.

UDEZUE, who is already in Pretoria, said it was rather unfortunate that an African country needs a visa to travel to another African country, stressing that it is against the spirit of sportsmanship.

He noted that the act of refusing the team visas seems like a deliberate attempt to stop the Junior D’Tigers, as the South African Embassy in Lagos cleared the girls to travel, and they are already in Pretoria and set for their opening match against Egypt on Tuesday.”