The South African government has denied Nigeria’s national under-18 basketball team visas to participate in the 2024 FIBA U18 Afrobasket tournament, scheduled to take place in Cape Town from December 14 to 22.
The Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) confirmed the development, expressing disappointment and frustration at the sudden denial of visas, which they claimed was done without explanation.
The Vice Chairman of the Youth Development Committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Ugo Udezue, described South Africa’s actions as total sabotage.
The players’ visas were denied by the South African Consulate at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The decision has jeopardised Nigeria’s trip to the biennial tournament starting in South Africa on Tuesday (today), with Nigeria billed to face Egypt in Pretoria later in the day.
The players, who trained and camped in Abuja on return from Abidjan, are in total shock, tears, and pain as they watch their dreams of being at the FIBA World Championship fade on account of the South Africans denying them entry.
Reacting, Ugo Udezue said, “First of all, it’s rather unfortunate that an African country needs a visa to travel to another African country. Secondly, this is against the spirit of sportsmanship. These kids have sacrificed too much for a visa consular officer to deny them the opportunity to represent Nigeria globally.”
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.
The girls were camped in Lagos on their return from Ivory Coast, where both teams finished as winners of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers.
The NBBF sent the names of the boys and girls in a single letter to the embassy.
It was learnt that the NBBF had already complained to FIBA Africa, the South African hosts, and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The calls made by South African officials from Pretoria had made little or no impact.
