President of FIBA Africa Zone 3 and board member of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Colonel Sam Amedu, has delivered a brutally honest assessment of the state of Nigerian basketball, confessing that the federation has failed the nation by repeatedly failing to organize a proper, full-season domestic league over the past several years.
Speaking candidly, Amedu said the federation’s reliance on abridged league formats, often rushed and poorly structured, has hurt players, coaches, referees, and clubs across the country.
“We have failed the nation in recent years. The constant abridged formats are unacceptable. Nigerian basketball deserves a full league campaign, not improvised competitions,” he stated.
For five consecutive years, Nigeria’s domestic basketball scene has lacked a stable, continuous calendar, a situation that has stunted player development and prevented clubs from competing effectively at continental level.
Amedu said this chronic inconsistency has had damaging consequences.
“Players cannot develop properly. Coaches cannot plan. Officials cannot function professionally. It affects everything, even our performances internationally,” he explained.
The respected basketball administrator called for a total overhaul of the league structure, insisting that Nigeria must restore the integrity and competitiveness of its domestic competitions if it hopes to regain its place among Africa’s top basketball nations.
“We must revise the league calendar. We must bring back a complete season that follows global standards. That is the only way to rebuild,” he said.
Amedu also warned that without a stable league, young talents will continue to stagnate, and the national teams, both D’Tigers and D’Tigress, will struggle with continuity and domestic talent integration.
“Our national teams depend on a strong league. Without it, the future becomes uncertain,” he noted.
He stressed that the federation must embrace professionalism, transparency, and accountability moving forward.
“Rebuilding starts with admitting the truth. Now we must fix the system and deliver the league Nigerian basketball deserves,” Amedu concluded.
