President of Lagos Legends Basketball Club, Mannesah Achii, has revealed that the newly crowned Nigerian champions have already begun plans to significantly strengthen their roster ahead of the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) — a competition he describes as a “different level entirely.”
Lagos Legends shocked the nation by dethroning Rivers Hoopers to win the Nigeria Basketball Premier League for the first time in their history.
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But Achii has made it clear that the club is not celebrating for too long. The focus has immediately shifted to preparing for the continental stage.
“The BAL is not the same as the domestic league. It’s faster, stronger, more demanding — and we must upgrade the team to compete properly,” Achii said.
He explained that the board has already started scouting for reinforcements, both locally and internationally, to ensure the team enters the BAL with depth, talent, and experience. According to him, recruitment will be strategic and targeted.
“We’re going to strengthen every area necessary. We know what we need, and we will bring in the right players,” he assured.
Achii praised the current squad for their monumental achievement, noting that their belief, discipline, and teamwork carried them to the top. However, he also stressed that BAL opponents — including giants from Tunisia, Senegal, Angola, and Egypt — operate at a much higher intensity.
To match that level, Lagos Legends must evolve.
“We are proud of our boys, but we also know the BAL requires another gear. We are preparing early because we want to represent Nigeria well,” he said.
The club president promised that Lagos Legends will not merely show up to participate — they intend to compete seriously and chase victories on the African stage.
Achii also revealed that the technical crew will undergo capacity upgrades, including training and exposure programmes, to equip them for the tactical demands of continental basketball.
He ended with strong optimism:
“Lagos Legends are champions of Nigeria — now we must rise to the next challenge. We will be ready for Africa.”
