Susan Abayomi
The race for the 2026 Zenith Bank/NBBF Women’s Basketball League championship has entered its decisive stage, with eight teams converging on Lagos for the Final 8 competition.
The tournament is taking place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, from September 28 to October 3, 2026.
The qualified teams are Nigeria Customs, AS Sky Queens, Titans, Air Warriors, MFM, First Bank, Victoria Queens and Bayelsa Blue Whales, following their campaigns in the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences.
The teams have been divided into two groups. Group A comprises MFM, AS Sky Queens, Titans and Bayelsa Blue Whales, while Nigeria Customs, First Bank, Victoria Queens and Air Warriors make up Group B.
The group-stage matches are scheduled to run through October 1, after which the top two teams in each group will advance to the semi-finals. The third-place playoff and championship final are scheduled for October 3.
The absence of defending champions Dolphins Basketball Club means a new champion will be crowned this year. Dolphins won the 2025 title after defeating First Bank in the final but failed to finish among the top four teams in the Atlantic Conference this season.
First Bank enters the Final 8 with a record nine league titles and will be seeking to add another championship to its history. MFM, meanwhile, will be aiming to reclaim the title after winning consecutive championships in 2023 and 2024.
Nigeria Customs will also be looking to build on its strong Savannah Conference campaign, while the other finalists will seek to make the most of their opportunity to compete for national honours.
The competition has been a major platform for the development of women’s basketball in Nigeria, providing players with opportunities to improve their skills and compete at the highest domestic level. Several players who have represented Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, D’Tigress, have also emerged from the domestic league.
Zenith Bank has sponsored the National Women’s Basketball League since 2005 through its partnership with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). The long-running partnership has supported the growth and organisation of the women’s league and created a sustained platform for female basketball talent in the country.
With the Final 8 now underway in Lagos, attention will be on the eight teams as they compete through the group stage, semi-finals and final in their bid to claim the 2026 Zenith Bank/NBBF Women’s Basketball League crown.
