By Ibrahim Adeyemo
The University of Ibadan on June 1, 2026, clinched the men’s title at the 8th Afro-Varsity 3×3 Basketball Championship held at the International Conference Centre (ICC). Having settled for third place at the previous edition, the hosts completed a remarkable rise before an enthusiastic home crowd, crowning another memorable chapter in the institution’s basketball history.
The championship, which featured 28 teams from universities across Africa, drew dignitaries including the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, alongside other university officials and sports enthusiasts who witnessed the climax of the competition.
The tournament carried extra significance as Uganda Christian University (UCU), champions of the previous edition, arrived in Ibadan hoping to extend their dominance. UCU had won the 7th edition in a dramatic 21-19 victory over Kenya’s United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) and came into the competition with a strong reputation for producing players who have represented Africa at the FISU 3×3 World Cup.
Action resumed on Monday with the completion of outstanding fixtures. Uganda Christian University edged the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, 19-18, while the University of Ibadan defeated the University of Ilorin 20-12. Higher Institute of Commercial Sciences (HEC) Kinshasa overcame Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) 14-12, while USIU-Africa defeated Afe Babalola University 21-16.
The quarter-finals started at 12pm, before it was briefly interrupted by heavy rainfall shortly after the women’s fixture between École SupĂ©rieure des Sciences et Techniques (ESST), Benin Republic, and USIU-Africa commenced. Following the downpour, play resumed with renewed intensity.
In the women’s quarter-finals, USIU-Africa defeated ESST Benin Republic 21-16, the University of Lagos edged the University of Abuja 12-10, Uganda Christian University beat Kisii University 14-8, while Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Queens defeated the University of Ilorin 12-1.
The men’s quarter-finals produced equally competitive encounters as the University of Ibadan defeated the University of Ghana 21-18, Uganda Christian University overcame HEC Kinshasa 13-9, Nile University defeated LAUTECH 21-8, while USIU-Africa secured a 21-14 victory over ESST Benin Republic.
The semi-finals saw USIU-Africa narrowly defeat the University of Lagos 11-9 in the women’s category, while Uganda Christian University comfortably overcame OAU Queens 16-7. In the men’s category, the University of Ibadan delivered one of the standout performances of the tournament, defeating Uganda Christian University 20-13 in a fiercely contested match. Nile University also booked a place in the final after overcoming USIU-Africa 21-15.
Uganda Christian University eventually claimed the women’s title with a convincing 21-15 victory over USIU-Africa. The University of Lagos secured third place after edging OAU Queens 8-7.
In the men’s third-place match, USIU-Africa defeated Uganda Christian University 21-13 to claim bronze.
The men’s final provided a fitting end to the championship as two Nigerian institutions, the University of Ibadan and Nile University, battled for continental supremacy. Amid loud cheers from the home crowd, both sides displayed determination and quality, but the University of Ibadan held their nerve to secure victory and claim the continental title. Medals, trophies and championship cups were presented to deserving teams and participants at the end of the competition. The tournament concluded with votes of thanks from the organisers before participants and officials gathered for an after-party that continued into the night.
With their performances in Ibadan, the top two teams in both the men’s and women’s categories secured qualification to represent Africa at the FISU 3×3 World Cup in China, in October, 2026, the world’s premier university basketball championship.
