West Africa’s top basketball teams are set to gather in Lagos to fight for honours in the Crown Elite All-Star Weekend and Awards, which will begin at the National Stadium, Surulere from April 21 to 23, 2023.
Divided into Oceanic and Sahel Conferences, the male and female teams’ competition is part of the events lined up to celebrate Crown Elite’s 10th anniversary.
According to the organisers, more than 40, 000 basketball fans from across Nigeria voted for their favourite players to participate in the All-Star competition.
“48 of Nigeria’s top male and female talents will compete for the coveted title of 2023 Crown Elite All Star Champions, as well as N3m in cash prizes and awards.
“The competition between these conference teams is sure to be thrilling as these are the best of the best players in Nigeria, basketball,” President of Crown Elite Sports, organisers of the All-Star competition and Awards, Hanson Oguche, said.
“The event is intended to inspire excellence, while celebrating individual achievements of outstanding players, officials and stakeholders in Nigeria basketball,” he noted.
Oguche disclosed that the Sahel Conference men’s All-Star team would be coached by Baba Jubril (Head Coach) and Hamza Abubakar (Asst. Coach), while the women’s team will be coached by Coach Mohammed Abba (Head Coach) and Coach Tony Nelson (Asst. Coach).
The Oceanic Conference men’s team, he said, will be coached by Ogoh Odaudu (Head Coach) and Coach Emma (Asst. Coach), while the women’s team will be coached by Taiye Adeniyi (Head Coach) and Ochuko (Asst. Coach).
“In addition to the much-anticipated competition between the conference teams, the Nigerian women national team will battle with their Republic of Benin counterparts. The game is part a series of friendly exhibition games that will precede the All-Star matchup.
“The international friendly encounter between the two countries will hold on April 21, 2023, at 4.00 p.m. Ebun Comets and Raptors Basketball Club will also grace the court,” he said.
Apart from the matches, the organisers said there would also be slam dunk and three-point shooting contests, while Crown Elite will host a VIP Awards on April 23 at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel Lagos.
“This expansion to Crown Elite’s yearly event is aimed at showcasing and celebrating the best players, coaches, technical officials, and stakeholders in the country’s basketball ecosystem,” Oguche said.
Players listed for the Sahel Conference men’s team are David Isah, Levi Moses, Umar Garba, Abdulwahab Yakubu, Victor Eze, Victor Mohammed, Uchichi Samuel, Lucky Subel, Emmanuel C. Udueze, Kingsley Anaba, Nnoruka Francis and Oche David. They will be coached by C Baba Jilbri (head coach) and Hamza Abubakar (asst. coach).
In the Oceanic Conference men’s team are Johnson Anaiye, Victor Sunday, Kanyinsola Odofuwa, Michael Daramola, Adebayo Oduleye, Banire, Onyebuchi Vincent, Ibe Agu, Ogunsemore Jide, Victor Koko, Ikechukwu Oparaugo and Michael Okiki. Ogoh Odaudu (head coach) and Emma Okolo will lead the team.
