The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has lauded the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Women’s Basketball Club for their remarkable achievement at the Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) Africa Women’s Basketball League Zone 3 qualifiers, currently taking place in Monrovia, Liberia. Dikko praised the team’s efforts in proudly representing Nigeria and excelling in the competition, where they recently secured their place in the finals of the FIBA Africa Women’s Basketball League, scheduled to be held from December 6 to 12, 2024, in Dakar, Senegal.
Reflecting on the team’s journey, Dikko expressed his satisfaction with the club’s progress, noting that the MFM Women’s Basketball Club has showcased Nigeria’s strength in women’s sports across Africa. “I have been closely following the accomplishments of the MFM team,” he stated. “They have made Nigeria proud by advancing to the next phase of the FIBA Africa League, where the top eight teams from across the continent will gather. I am confident that the MFM team will rise to the occasion and stand strong among Africa’s best,” Dikko remarked.
Dikko extended his commendation to the General Overseer of MFM, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, whose unwavering commitment to promoting youth engagement and sports development has played a significant role in the team’s success. Reflecting on MFM’s broader sports contributions, Dikko remarked, “We remember the impact that the MFM football team had in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), along with their participation in the CAF Champions League several years ago, during my time as the NPFL Chairman. I’m also aware that MFM supports a wrestling team producing athletes of global caliber and a table tennis team.”
Dikko further noted that MFM’s holistic approach to supporting a range of sports has aligned seamlessly with the NSC’s mission to foster growth in domestic sports. “These achievements are highly commendable, and the MFM model reflects the vision we have at the NSC for grassroots and domestic sports development,” he stated. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Olukoya for his invaluable contributions to empowering Nigerian youth through sports, and we encourage him to persist in his efforts. We look forward to exploring ways to bolster our support for these initiatives in the near future.”
In addition to congratulating MFM Women’s Basketball Club, Dikko also recognized the strong performance of Nigeria’s other representative team, Nigeria Customs, for their admirable effort in reaching the semi-final stage of the competition, where they ultimately faced a close match against MFM. Nigeria Customs delivered a commendable performance, although they were unable to advance to the finals after their loss to MFM at the Samuel Kayon Doe Stadium in Monrovia on Saturday evening.
The MFM Women’s Basketball Club has now emerged as Nigeria’s sole representative in the upcoming FIBA Africa Women’s Basketball League final in Dakar, Senegal. Their victory over Nigeria Customs not only secured their place in the tournament’s final stage but also demonstrated the rising stature of Nigerian women’s basketball on the African continent. As the team prepares to compete against Africa’s top women’s basketball teams, they carry with them high hopes and the pride of representing Nigeria on an international stage.
Dikko emphasized the importance of the team’s achievement, highlighting the positive message it sends to aspiring Nigerian athletes and the broader sports community in the country. He concluded by expressing his confidence in the MFM team’s capability to make a strong impression in Dakar and underscored the NSC’s commitment to supporting such initiatives that encourage youth involvement in sports and contribute to the nation’s athletic development.