Basketball: MFM beats First Bank 66-64 in overtime to reclaim Nigerian women's title

The Lagos-based club MFM was crowned Nigerian women's basketball champion by defeating First Bank 66-64 in overtime in the final of the NBBF/Zenith Bank Women's Basketball League, held at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. The match took place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, according to Fellow Press, while other Nigerian media outlets placed it on October 4.

It took an extra five minutes to determine the winner. MFM took control early on (11-6 in the first quarter), led 24-18 at halftime, and 43-35 after three periods, before seeing First Bank rally to 56-56 at the end of regulation time. In overtime, MFM's players held onto the decisive two-point lead.

A third title in four seasons

This is MFM's third title in four years, according to Daily Trust. The trophy thus returns to a club that has established itself at the pinnacle of Nigerian women's basketball, in a league where First Bank remains the most consistent opponent. Player Abigail Isaac was cited as one of the architects of the success.

The Most Valuable Player award went to Ioumabo Pius (MFM), who was rewarded with 2 million naira, according to Daily Trust and ThisDay. The competition's All-Star team included Nwaado Hemban (MFM), Marilyn Ofidibe (First Bank), Nkem Akaraiwe (Nigeria Customs), and Favour Anari (ASO SKY).

Regarding prize money, MFM received 7.5 million naira, First Bank 5 million, and Nigeria Customs 3 million. The customs officers took third place by defeating the ASO SKY Queens 51-38.

Sponsorship, the lifeblood of the sport

The final also served as a platform for the league's sponsor, Zenith Bank, whose management reiterated its commitment to the development of Nigerian women's basketball, emphasizing the role of the players as role models for the young girls present in the stands.

This point is not anecdotal. African women's basketball relies heavily on these banking and local corporate partnerships, which fund venues, travel, and bonuses where public subsidies are lacking. In Nigeria, this continuity of sponsorship has allowed the women's league to maintain a schedule and offer real prize money to its clubs: this is one of the reasons why the country provides a talent pool of players for the national team and foreign leagues.

The next step remains what Nigerian clubs have been demanding for years: more regular continental competitions, so that teams like MFM can measure their level against the best teams in Africa rather than just once a year.