Basketball
Air Warriors Chairman Solademi Hails D’Tigress Win, Plans Women’s Basketball Initiative in Ogbomoso
By Joel Ajayi
Chairman of Air Warriors Basketball Club, Abuja, AbdulMajid Oladimeji Solademi, has hailed D’Tigress for their historic fifth consecutive FIBA AfroBasket Women’s Championship title, following their emphatic 75–64 win over Mali in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
In a statement shared with journalists in Abuja, Solademi expressed immense pride in the national team’s accomplishment.
“Huge congratulations to D’Tigress on clinching their fifth AfroBasket title—that’s truly phenomenal!” he said. “As a passionate basketball supporter and a promoter of women’s basketball, I couldn’t be more thrilled!”
Inspired by the team’s success, Solademi announced plans to establish a female basketball team in his hometown of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, aimed at harnessing local talent and deepening the game’s roots at the grassroots level.
“It’s time to bring basketball development back home,” he declared. “We want to discover and nurture more stars like Murjanatu Musa from Ogbomoso. The talent is there—we just need to provide the right platform.”
Solademi reserved special praise for D’Tigress forward and former Air Warriors standout Murjanatu Liman Musa, commending her performance in the final despite fouling out early in the fourth quarter.
“I’m bursting with pride! Murjanatu’s nine points and four rebounds were key contributions. She’s shown she belongs at the top and has so much more to give on the global stage.”
He also lauded head coach Rena Wakama and the entire D’Tigress squad for their unity, determination, and winning spirit.
“Coach Wakama and the team—take a bow! You’ve made every Nigerian proud.”
Turning the spotlight on his own team, Solademi urged the Air Warriors to draw inspiration from the national team’s triumph.
“To my players—let’s channel this energy! We can make our mark, too. Let’s stay focused, work hard, and push for greatness.”
Fresh from organizing a successful grassroots football tournament in Ogbomoso, Solademi reaffirmed his commitment to youth empowerment through sports.
“From football to basketball, our mission is the same—building opportunities and hope for young talents across Nigeria.”
Basketball
Fresh Ideas, Science Needed to Revitalise Basketball —ABA
Cyril Ogar
President/Founder, Amateur Basketball Academies, ABA, Aliyu Lucky Abubakar has called for a scientific and pragmatic approach to rediscovering the game of basketball in the North East.
The former player of many teams in Nigeria stated this on Saturday during training of coaches in Yola, Adamawa State.
Aliyu said the training is aimed to arm Coaches so they can, in turn, reach the children, especially those that ABA may not. The Deputy Comptroller in Nigeria Customs Service decried non-challant attitudes of the stakeholders in the development of basketball in the North East.
” Basketball is fading in the North East, and we at ABA will not allow it to die.”
“Adamawa was once a force in the game of basketball but had fallen behind. Our plan is to discover talent through coaching training, nurture it, and carry it from state level to the national team, and eventually, the global stage.” The basketball administrator said.
In his keynote message to the participants, which centered on the theme, “HOPE,” Harnessing opportunity, Organising for excellence, Promoting players’ development, and Empowering the next generation, Aliyu said, is far more than a drill instructors.
” Every child you see on a basketball court has a dream, and it is our job as a coach to spot it early and give it somewhere to go.” He concluded.
In his lecture titled, ” Who is a Coach”, Emmanuel Odah, the head Coach, FCT Basketball and former National Juniors team, described a coach as a committed, organised, affectionate, caring and humble.
” Commitment is consistency, and consistency is mother of progress; humility comes first because a coach who can not control himself can never control a game,” Odah insisted.
Other instructors at the training include ABA head of technical, Coach Adeka Daudu, as well as Coach Alexander Anyebe Ujoh, who spoke about the relationship between a coach and child in his care.
Coaches at the training commended ABA for its boldness to give hopes to basketball coaches all over the country. They promised that lessons learned would reshape and reset their mind on the job. They said the training will help them in understanding their role not only as an instructor but also grooming the children for a better future.
Among guests at the event include FCT Acting Director of Sports, Mr. Iyiola Ogundele and Bayelsa Veteran Basketball administrator, Coach Tony
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