The 2026 Zenith Bank/NBBF Women’s Basketball League has entered its decisive stage, with eight teams set to battle for the championship at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The national Final 8, which began on September 28, will run until October 3, 2026, according to a statement issued by Zenith Bank.
The teams that secured their places after competitive campaigns in the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences are Nigeria Customs, AS Sky Queens, Titans, Air Warriors, MFM, First Bank, Victoria Queens and Bayelsa Blue Whales.
The bank said the absence of defending champions Dolphins Basketball Club has added further intrigue to this year’s championship.
Dolphins, who defeated First Bank in last year’s final, failed to finish among the top four teams in the Atlantic Conference and will therefore not be able to defend their title.
According to Zenith Bank, the 2026 championship is now open for any of the eight remaining teams to claim, with several of the contenders bringing significant championship experience into the competition.
First Bank, last year’s runners-up and the most successful team in the history of the competition, enter the Final 8 with nine league titles, while MFM will be seeking another championship after winning consecutive titles in 2023 and 2024.
The bank said the Final 8 reflects the growth of the women’s basketball league, which has provided a platform for Nigeria’s leading female basketball talents to compete and develop for more than two decades.
Zenith Bank has been the sole sponsor of the National Women’s Basketball League since 2005 through its partnership with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
The bank said its sponsorship has helped sustain a competitive platform where young talents can be discovered, nurtured and prepared for higher levels of the sport.
It added that the league has also served as an important pathway to the national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, with several players who have represented Nigeria emerging from the domestic competition.
Beyond basketball, Zenith Bank said its commitment to youth and community development extends to initiatives including the reconstruction and beautification of Ajose Adeogun Street and Roundabout, the annual Zenith Bank Youth Parade and Light-Up Ceremony, construction of ICT centres in tertiary institutions across the country and the construction of the ultra-modern Iga Iduganran Primary Healthcare Centre.
The bank said these initiatives reflect its broader commitment to creating opportunities, developing potential and contributing to the growth of communities and the next generation.
With eight teams remaining in the competition and the defending champions out of contention, the spotlight is now on Lagos as the teams battle for the 2026 Zenith Bank/NBBF Women’s Basketball League crown.
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