Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has applauded Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Women’s Basketball Club for making the nation proud at the ongoing Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) Africa Women’s Basketball League Zone 3 qualifiers in Monrovia, Liberia.
Speaking shortly after Nigeria’s women’s league champions qualified for the finals of the FIBA Africa Women’s Basketball League, scheduled to hold in Dakar, Senegal from 6 to 12 December 2024, the NSC chairman expressed his delight that the MFM team has demonstrated Nigeria’s potential to dominate Africa and the world in sports.
“I’ve been following the achievements of the MFM team, and I’m thrilled they have made the country proud by qualifying for the next stage—the FIBA Africa league, where the best eight teams will assemble in December. I have no doubt they will hold their own against Africa’s best,” the NSC boss said.
Dikko also commended the General Overseer of MFM, Dr Daniel Olukoya, for his dedication to youth and sports development in Nigeria.
“We all recall the MFM football team’s impact in the NPFL, and their participation in the CAF Champions League a few years ago during my time as NPFL Chairman. I’m also aware MFM has a wrestling team producing world-class athletes and even a table tennis team,” Dikko added,
“These achievements are commendable, and the MFM model aligns with the NSC’s vision for domestic sports development. We thank Dr Olukoya and urge him to continue his efforts in empowering youths. We’ll find ways to show our support in the days ahead.”
Dikko also congratulated Nigeria Customs for their strong performance in reaching the competition’s semi-final, where they ultimately lost to MFM.
MFM Women’s Basketball Club defeated Nigeria’s other representatives, Nigeria Customs, in the semi-final at the Samuel Kayon Doe Stadium in Monrovia on Saturday evening. They will now be Nigeria’s sole representatives in the FIBA Africa Women’s Basketball League in Dakar, Senegal.