Nigeria Under-18 boys’ basketball team, known as the Junior D’Tigers, have finally been granted visas to South Africa, according to the head of delegation, Ugo Udueze.

The team is scheduled to play their opening match against Egypt on Wednesday in the AfroBasket Men’s U18 competition.

What Happened?

The Nigerian team faced an unexpected challenge when the South African Consulate in Abuja denied their visa applications.

This situation put Nigeria’s participation in the tournament at risk, as the boys were unable to travel to South Africa in time for the start of the competition.

In response to this setback, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) made urgent appeals to FIBA Africa, the South African hosts, and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

However, the issue remained unresolved for several days, with minimal response from South African officials.

Current Situation and Camp Update

Fortunately, the situation has taken a positive turn, with the Junior D’Tigers now preparing to depart for Pretoria.

They are expected to arrive in time to rest before their rescheduled match against Egypt.

The NBBF’s persistent efforts paid off, and the team is hopeful they will be able to perform at their best as they take on to the court in their opening game.