The 2026 Zenith Bank/NBBF Women’s Basketball League will enter its decisive stage as the top eight teams compete for the national championship at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The national Finals will run from September 28 to October 3, 2026, following the completion of the Atlantic and Savannah Conference campaigns.
The teams that secured places in the Final 8 are Nigeria Customs, AS Sky Queens, Titans, Air Warriors, MFM, First Bank, Victoria Queens and Bayelsa Blue Whales.
The competition is expected to produce a new champion after last year’s winners, Dolphins Basketball Club, failed to qualify for the Finals.
Dolphins won the 2025 title after defeating First Bank in the final but finished outside the top four in the Atlantic Conference this season.
Their absence leaves the championship open, with the remaining eight teams seeking to claim the trophy.
Among the contenders is First Bank, which remains the most successful team in the history of the competition with nine league titles. The team also finished as runner-up last year and will be seeking to go one step further this season.
MFM will also enter the competition with significant championship experience. The team won consecutive league titles in 2023 and 2024 and will be hoping to add another trophy to its collection.
The Final 8 is expected to highlight the depth and growth of women’s basketball in Nigeria, with the league continuing to provide opportunities for female players to develop their skills and compete at the highest domestic level.
Zenith Bank has been the sole sponsor of the National Women’s Basketball League since 2005. Through its partnership with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), the bank has supported the continued development of the women’s game and provided a platform for players to showcase their talents.
The domestic league has also contributed to the development of Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, with several players who have represented the country at international competitions emerging through the domestic competition.
Beyond basketball, the league provides young female athletes with opportunities to develop discipline, teamwork, confidence and competitive experience while pursuing professional careers in sport.
As the action shifts to Lagos, attention will now focus on which of the eight qualified teams will emerge as the 2026 national champions.
The sponsorship of the women’s basketball league forms part of Zenith Bank’s broader community development initiatives, which the bank says are aimed at creating opportunities and supporting the development of young Nigerians.
Other initiatives associated with the bank include the reconstruction and beautification of Ajose Adeogun Street and Roundabout, the annual Zenith Bank Youth Parade and Light-Up Ceremony, the construction of ICT centres in tertiary institutions across Nigeria and the construction of the ultra-modern Iga Iduganran Primary Healthcare Centre.
Through its continued investment in women’s basketball and other community-focused programmes, Zenith Bank has maintained its support for initiatives aimed at youth development, sports and community development.
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