Abuja will host the Crown Elite Basketball All-Star Weekend from 22 to 24 August, featuring West Africa’s top basketball clubs, including Nigeria University Games champions Nile University and premiership giants Gboko City Chiefs at the Mo Arena Sports Hall.
The three-day event marks Crown Elite Sports’ first venture into Nigeria’s capital city after more than 12 years of programming, bringing together the continent’s most noteworthy players for what organisers promise will be a spectacular showcase.
‘We are truly excited to bring the Crown Elite All-Star event to Nigeria’s vibrant capital city, Abuja. This edition promises to be thrilling, as it not only celebrates the heart of basketball in our nation but also emphasises the importance of education among athletes, said the president of Crown Elite Sports and founder of the organisation, Hanson Oguche.
The weekend will feature exhibition matches on 22 August involving six clubs, including Mo Heat Basketball Club, Royal Aces Basketball Club, and Air Warriors Basketball Club, with Hotcoal Basketball Foundation serving as key sponsor.
The main All-Star games on 23 August will see the Sahel Conference Co-Ed Select Team, coached by Nile University’s Hamza Abubakar, face the Oceanic Conference team under the guidance of 2024 NBA Basketball Africa League Coach of the Year Ogoh Odaudu, who doubles as National Team Coach and Rivers Hoopers head coach.
A legends match between ABU Kings Alumni and a Rest of World Veterans Select Team will also take place on the same day.
Dr Ubong Udo, founder of Hotcoal Basketball Foundation, expressed excitement about partnering with Crown Elite Sports to showcase and empower athletes.
The weekend will conclude with an invite-only VIP Awards Presentation on 24th August, celebrating the best players, coaches, technical officials, and stakeholders in Nigerian basketball.
Fan favourites, including slam dunk and three-point shooting contests, will add entertainment value to the championship, which aims to become the premier forum for showcasing talented African athletes.
Crown Elite Sports, established by ex-international player Oguche, focuses on maximising the potential of talented youth athletes and professional players through sporting championships, player development programmes, and educational counselling.
