MILO Basketball Championship: Gboko, Father O’Connell book National finals tickets

Posted : 12 June 2026

The 26th edition of the MILO Basketball Championship has produced its Central Conference champions, with Government Secondary School, Gboko, Benue State, and Father O’Connell Science College, Niger State, securing places in the National Finals.

Government Secondary School, Gboko, dominated the girls’ category, defeating Nigerian Defence Academy Staff Secondary School of Kaduna State 63-31 in the final to claim the regional crown.

In the boys’ competition, Father O’Connell Science College emerged victorious after edging Government Secondary School, Gwarinpa Life Camp, Abuja, 56-53 in a fiercely contested championship game.

The results were announced in a statement issued in Lagos by Lois Nweke, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Specialist.

The Central Conference finals attracted seven schools competing for qualification slots to the national championship, which will take place in Lagos on July 2.

Individual brilliance also took centre stage during the tournament. Friday Victoria Ada of Government Secondary School, Gboko, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the girls’ category after scoring 25 points in the final.

Father O’Connell’s Idris Mohamed earned the boys’ MVP award following his impressive 20-point contribution in his team's narrow victory.

Speaking at the event, MILO Sports Marketing Manager, Mrs. Funmilola Oyewole, representing Category Manager Mr. Gilbert Tweneboah-Koduah, reaffirmed the brand’s commitment to youth development through sports.

According to Tweneboah-Koduah, the championship continues to provide a platform for young athletes to develop discipline, teamwork, confidence, and resilience while pursuing excellence both on and off the court.

He noted that the competition has remained a vital avenue for talent discovery over the past 26 years, helping students transform their passion for sports into meaningful opportunities.

This year's championship attracted applications from more than 13,000 schools nationwide, highlighting the growing appeal of the competition among young Nigerians.

With the Savannah and Central Conferences now concluded, focus shifts to the Atlantic Conference, where nine schools in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will compete for qualification to the National Finals.

Earlier, Government Secondary School, Zing, Taraba State, won the Savannah Conference girls’ title, while Family Support Programme School of Katsina State emerged champions in the boys’ category.

The regional champions will join other qualifiers in Lagos as the battle for national honours gathers momentum.

The Central Conference finals were attended by officials from the Federal Capital Territory ministries, representatives of the Nigeria School Sport Federation, Nigeria Cricket Support Foundation, and FIBA, underscoring the significance of the championship in Nigeria’s grassroots sports development.

The successful conclusion of the Central Conference matches further cements the tournament's legacy as a premier scouting ground for young basketball talents. As the qualified schools prepare for the ultimate showdown in Lagos, the intense competition continues to raise the standard of grassroots sports across the federation. All eyes now look forward to the upcoming regional phases to complete the elite lineup for the national crown.

MILO Basketball Championship: Gboko, Father O’Connell book National finals tickets

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