There was a downpour of cash at the 2026 NBBF/Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League finale in Lagos, with champions MFM Women’s Basketball Team pocketing N7.5 million for their title triumph.
First Bank, who finished runners-up, received N5 million, while Nigeria Customs, who secured the bronze medal, went home with N3 million.
MFM clinched their third league title in four years after surviving a late scare from record champions First Bank, edging the final 66-64 after overtime in a thrilling contest.
Earlier on Saturday, Nigeria Customs defeated Savannah Conference rivals ASO SKY Queens 51-38 to claim third place and the accompanying N3 million prize.
Speaking at the finale, Zenith Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, OON, represented by Executive Director Adamu Lawani, described all the participating teams as winners and reaffirmed the bank’s long-standing commitment to developing women’s basketball in Nigeria.
“All of you already inspire every young girl watching from the stands tonight,” Lawani said.
“Zenith Bank remains committed to the game. We’ll be here next season and the seasons after. Once again, congratulations to all of us.
“To the champions, MFM, you earned this title with discipline and hard work. Congratulations to the runners-up, First Bank. You tested the champions to the end, so hold your heads very high. We will celebrate together.”
Zenith Bank’s support for the women’s league has now spanned 20 years, with the financial institution reiterating its commitment to using basketball as a platform for empowering young Nigerian women and developing sporting talent.
The individual award winners were also rewarded financially, with MFM’s Ioumabo Pius emerging as the biggest beneficiary after receiving a total of N2 million.
Pius was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and also made the Tournament Top Five.
She received N500,000 from Zenith Bank for her place in the Top Five, alongside Favour Anari of ASO SKY Queens, Nwaado Hemban of MFM, Nkem Akaraiwe of Nigeria Customs and Marilyn Ofidibe of First Bank.
The MFM star then received another N500,000 from Zenith Bank for winning the MVP award.
Dam Foundations and Xejet subsequently added N500,000 each to her purse, taking her total individual prize money to N2 million.
The financial rewards capped an exciting finale and reinforced the growing partnership between Zenith Bank and the Nigeria Basketball Federation in promoting women’s basketball and providing greater incentives for players and teams.
