Visa Denial Shock: South Africa Blocks Nigeria's Junior D’Tigers from AfroBasket 2024

South Africa denies visas to Nigeria's Junior D’Tigers ahead of AfroBasket 2024, raising questions of potential sabotage and controversy.

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In a surprising turn of events, the South African consulate in Abuja has denied visas to Nigeria’s U-18 basketball team, the Junior D’Tigers, just ahead of the 2024 FIBA U18 AfroBasket tournament. 

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The decision has thrown the team's participation into jeopardy, leaving the young athletes in shock and despair as their dreams of competing on the international stage hang in the balance. 

Nigeria, scheduled to face Egypt in Pretoria, has been forced to scramble for solutions. 

Ugo Udezue, Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, has labeled the visa denial as sabotage and is appealing to FIBA Africa and Nigerian authorities for intervention. 

Meanwhile, the Nigerian girls' team, who are in Lagos, are also caught in the crossfire as their status remains uncertain.

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