By Ayomide Otitoju
The 2026 Zenith Bank/NBBF Women’s Basketball League will enter its decisive stage as the final eight teams compete for the national title at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, from September 28 to October 3.
The teams that secured places in the Finals are Nigeria Customs, AS Sky Queens, Titans, Air Warriors, MFM, First Bank, Victoria Queens and Bayelsa Blue Whales.
The competition follows the conclusion of the Atlantic and Savannah Conference campaigns, with the teams now set to battle for national honours.
Defending champions Dolphins Basketball Club will not feature in the Finals after failing to finish among the top four teams in the Atlantic Conference, leaving the title open for a new champion.
First Bank, last year’s runners-up and the most successful team in the history of the competition, enter the Finals with nine league titles.
MFM, which won consecutive championships in 2023 and 2024, will also be seeking another title as the eight teams compete for the championship.
The league has provided a platform for the development of women’s basketball in Nigeria for more than two decades, with Zenith Bank serving as its sole sponsor since 2005 through its partnership with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
The partnership has supported the development of women’s basketball by providing a competitive platform for players to develop their skills and pursue professional careers.
Several players who have featured in the domestic league have also gone on to represent Nigeria’s senior women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress.
Beyond the national team, the competition continues to provide opportunities for young female athletes to develop skills in teamwork, discipline and competitive basketball.
The 2026 Finals will determine which of the eight teams will claim the league title and become the new champions of Nigerian women’s basketball.
Zenith Bank said its support for the league forms part of its broader commitment to youth development and community-focused initiatives.
The bank’s other community projects include the reconstruction and beautification of Ajose Adeogun Street and Roundabout, the annual Zenith Bank Youth Parade and Light-Up Ceremony, the construction of ICT centres in tertiary institutions and the Iga Iduganran Primary Healthcare Centre.
