South African government has denied visas to Nigeria’s national under-18 basketball team, preventing them from participating in the 2024 FIBA U18 Afrobasket tournament, set to take place in Cape Town from December 14 to 22.
The decision, which was made without explanation, has sparked outrage and disappointment within the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF).
The NBBF, through its Vice Chairman of the Youth Development Committee, Ugo Udezue, expressed deep frustration over the visa denial, describing South Africa’s actions as “total sabotage.”
The players, who had been training and camping in Abuja after returning from Abidjan, were in tears as they watched their dreams of competing on the international stage fade away due to the visa refusal by the South African Consulate in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Udezue highlighted the irony that an African country would require visas for citizens of another African nation, especially in the context of a continental sporting event.
He emphasised the sacrifices made by the young athletes and condemned the visa denial as a severe blow to their aspirations to represent Nigeria globally.
This has jeopardised Nigeria’s participation in the tournament, which begins today with a match against Egypt.
Meanwhile, the national under-18 girls’ team, cleared to travel by the South African Embassy in Lagos, have already arrived in Pretoria and are set for their opening match against Egypt.
The NBBF had submitted the names of both the boys’ and girls’ teams in a single letter to the embassy.
While the girls’ team was granted visas, the boys were inexplicably denied, leading to suspicions of deliberate obstruction.
In response, the NBBF said it had lodged complaints with FIBA Africa, the South African hosts, and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.
However, efforts to resolve the issue, including appeals made by South African officials from Pretoria, have yielded little to no impact.
The visa denial has not only dashed the hopes of young Nigerian athletes but also raised broader concerns about the fairness and transparency of visa processes for African nations.
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