National Sports Commission (NSC) chairman Shehu Dikko has ruled out calls for a mass resignation at the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) following D’Tigress’ poor showing at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany. Dikko said the federation fulfilled its responsibilities by providing preparations for the global tournament and should not face the kind of leadership exit recently seen at the Nigeria Football Federation.
Nigeria lost all three Group B matches, finishing with a 111–56 defeat to France. The result contrasted sharply with their run to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and a fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket title in 2025.
Dikko indicated that any reforms the NSC considers necessary will be pursued with a newly elected NBBF board. FIBA has recognised the mandate of the current board led by Musa Kida until October 15, 2026, with the new leadership expected to begin its tenure on October 16. The international body expects the election to follow the Women’s World Cup and no later than the October deadline.
The NBBF election is already attracting scrutiny, with stakeholders noting that a detailed electoral roadmap, electoral committee and timetable had yet to be publicly announced. Dikko’s defence of the federation follows the NSC’s confirmation on September 9 that presidential cash rewards for the 2025 AfroBasket win had been paid to players and officials.
