Team Red, Team Blue Crowned ABA League Champions as Yaro, Okoye Win MVP Awards

Posted : 21 September 2026

Team Red and Team Blue emerged champions in the men's and women's categories respectively as the inaugural 2026 Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA) League concluded in Abuja. The tournament brought together 40 academy teams and more than 500 young players during its two-week programme.

Team Red secured the men's championship after defeating Team Black 60-57 in a closely contested final at Mo Arena, Wuse Zone 5. The three-point margin reflected a competitive game that remained undecided until the closing stages.

Team Blue claimed the women's title after beating Team Black 22-17 in another closely fought final. The results brought the curtain down on a tournament designed to provide young players with competitive exposure and a pathway for talent development.

Full Force's Suleiman Yaro was named the men's Most Valuable Player after a strong tournament campaign. Treasure Okoye of One Ball received the women's MVP award for her performances throughout the competition.

The individual awards capped a tournament that featured young players from academies across Abuja. The competition also gave coaches, officials, supporters and potential talent scouts an opportunity to assess emerging players.

The league began with 40 teams divided equally between the boys' and girls' competitions. The opening phase featured 20 boys' teams and 20 girls' teams, with matches played at Mo Arena and the Package B Basketball Courts of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

Sixteen teams later advanced to the knockout stage after the group phase. Oneball Boys topped Group A with 21 points from 11 matches after recording 10 victories, while TNT Boys finished second with the same number of points and wins. Full Force Boys led Group B, followed by Eco Titans, Queens Court Boys and Dominion.

In the girls' competition, Oneball Girls led Group A, with TNT, Love and Suleja also qualifying. Queens Court Girls topped Group B ahead of Dominion, Smarth Academy and Plastic Academy.

ABA Head of Technical Officials Coach Adeka Daudu described the competition as a successful platform for identifying previously overlooked young talents. He also praised the players and coaches for their conduct during the tournament.

ABA President and Founder DC Aliyu Lucky Abubakar said the competition was built around early talent identification and progressive development. He stressed that young players need proper guidance and regular exposure to quality competition to maximise their potential.

The inaugural league's completion provides ABA with a foundation for expanding its grassroots basketball programmes and creating more competitive opportunities for young players in Abuja and beyond.

Team Red, Team Blue Crowned ABA League Champions as Yaro, Okoye Win MVP Awards

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