Zenith Bank Women’s Final 8: MFM, Sky Queens, First Bank Start With Wins Amid Delays

Posted : 01 October 2026

The Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball Premier League Final 8 Playoffs began in Lagos with four teams recording victories, but the opening day was marked by significant delays and repeated power outages at the National Sports Stadium.

MFM Basketball Club provided the most emphatic result of the day, overwhelming Bayelsa Blue Whales 69-35 to underline their credentials as one of the teams to watch in the championship decider.

The former champions dominated proceedings from the opening quarter and maintained their control throughout the encounter.

Their 34-point victory also extended their unbeaten run this season and provided a strong start to their Final 8 campaign.

First Bank Basketball Club also returned to winning ways after defeating Victoria Queens 68-57 in a match affected by several interruptions caused by power failures.

First Bank capitalised on their opportunities to establish an advantage early in the contest, while Victoria Queens struggled to build sufficient momentum to challenge their opponents.

The encounter was repeatedly halted by electricity blackouts, disrupting the rhythm of both teams and prolonging the fixture.

Sky Queens of Abuja recorded another convincing result, defeating Titans Basketball Club 55-36 in the third game of the day.

However, their victory was also overshadowed by a lengthy interruption, with a power outage stopping play for more than 40 minutes during the third quarter.

Nigeria Customs Basketball Club completed the day’s programme with a 55-41 victory over Air Warriors.

Customs gradually established control as Air Warriors struggled to find their rhythm, allowing the former to close out the contest with a comfortable margin.

While the four results provided competitive action on the court, the opening day’s scheduling and facility challenges became an equally prominent talking point.

The opening fixture was initially scheduled for 10:00 a.m. but eventually started at about 1:00 p.m., creating a delay of approximately three hours.

The late start had a cascading effect on the remaining matches, with subsequent power outages further extending the programme.

The absence of a clear explanation for the initial delay also added to the uncertainty surrounding the day’s schedule for teams, officials, and spectators.

The situation highlighted the importance of adequate match-day planning and infrastructure as the country’s leading women’s basketball teams battle for the league’s ultimate prize.

With the Final 8 bringing together the top teams in the competition, attention will now turn to the remaining fixtures, with organisers expected to address the challenges that disrupted the opening day’s programme.

On the court, MFM, First Bank, Sky Queens, and Nigeria Customs made winning starts.

Away from the action, however, the opening day demonstrated the need for greater reliability in the organisation and delivery of major domestic basketball competitions.

Zenith Bank Women’s Final 8: MFM, Sky Queens, First Bank Start With Wins Amid Delays

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