Elite female basketball talent on display: The Zenith Bank/NBBF Women’s Basketball League Final 8 is officially underway at the National Stadium, Lagos, featuring eight teams competing for the 2026 national championship
SHARE
The road to the 2026 Zenith Bank/NBBF Women’s Basketball League title reaches its climax as the nation’s top eight teams converge on the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The tournament, which determines the national champion, runs from September 28 to October 3, 2026.
Following fierce campaigns in the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences, Nigeria Customs, AS Sky Queens, Titans, Air Warriors, MFM, First Bank, Victoria Queens, and Bayelsa Blue Whales have secured their spots in the final battle for national honours.
With last year’s champions, Dolphins Basketball Club, failing to qualify from the Atlantic Conference, the title is firmly up for grabs, ensuring a new champion will be crowned this year.
Elite female basketball talent on display: The Zenith Bank/NBBF Women’s Basketball League Final 8 is officially underway at the National Stadium, Lagos, featuring eight teams competing for the 2026 national championship
The tournament features teams with significant championship pedigree. First Bank, the most successful team in the history of the competition, enters the fray with nine league titles. They are joined by MFM, which demonstrated recent dominance with back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. As these heavyweights meet, the Finals promise a collision of experience and ambition.
The growth of the league over the past two decades has provided a vital platform for Nigeria’s elite female basketball talent. Zenith Bank has served as the sole sponsor of the National Women’s Basketball League since 2005, partnering with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to foster a competitive environment where athletes can be nurtured for the highest levels of the sport.
The league has also become a primary pathway to the national team, D’Tigress, with many of Nigeria’s international stars having honed their skills in this domestic competition. Beyond the professional game, the league contributes to youth development by instilling discipline, teamwork, and professional sporting values in young female athletes.
For Zenith Bank, this sponsorship is part of a broader commitment to community development and creating opportunities for the next generation. The bank’s social responsibility initiatives 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 nationwide; and the construction of the Iga Iduganran Primary Healthcare Centre.
As the tournament begins in Lagos, the eight participating teams are set to compete for the ultimate prize, continuing a legacy of excellence that has defined the league for over 20 years.
