AfroBasket 2024: South Africa rejects Nigeria's junior basketball team visa.
South Africa has rejected visas to Nigerian Under-18 boys basketball players.
The South African Consulate in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, denied the players' visa applications.
The revelation has jeopardized Nigeria's participation in the 2024 FIBA U-18 Afrobasket competition, with the team scheduled to face Egypt in Pretoria today, Tuesday.
The Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) expressed dismay, citing a lack of explanation for the visa decision.
Ugo Udezue, Vice Chairman of the NBBF's Youth Development Committee, who is already in Pretoria, stated: "First and foremost, it is sad that an African country requires a visa to travel to another African country. Second, this violates the spirit of sportsmanship.
"These children have made far too many sacrifices for a visa consular officer to deny them the opportunity to represent Nigeria on a global scale.
"The act of refusing the team visas seems like a deliberate attempt to stop the Junior D'Tigers, as the South African Embassy in Lagos cleared the girls to travel, and they are already in Pretoria and set for their opening match against Egypt on Tuesday."
