MFM Basketball Club claimed their third NBBF/Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League title in four years on Saturday, edging record champions First Bank 66-64 in overtime at the final in Lagos. The victory earned MFM ₦7.5 million. First Bank received ₦5 million as runners-up, while Nigeria Customs took ₦3 million after defeating ASO Queens 51-38 in the third-place match.
The final lived up to expectations. First Bank forced the game into overtime with a late surge before MFM held their nerve to secure the two-point victory. Ioumabo Pius of MFM was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She received ₦2 million in total: ₦500,000 for making the Tournament Top Five, another ₦500,000 from Zenith Bank for the MVP award, and ₦500,000 each from Dam Foundations and Xejet.
This mirrors the broader challenge of sustaining women’s sports in Nigeria. The Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League has run for 20 years, making it one of the longest-running corporate sponsorships in Nigerian sports. But outside this league, women’s basketball players have limited professional pathways. The prize money is significant by domestic standards but modest compared to what male players earn in the Nigerian Premier Football League or abroad.
Zenith Bank Group Managing Director Adaora Umeoji, represented by Executive Director Adamu Lawani, said the bank would continue its support. “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”.
The human stakes are about visibility and aspiration. For a young girl in Lagos, Ibadan or Kano watching the final, seeing women compete at a high level and earn real money is not just entertainment. It is a signal that basketball is a viable path.
Winners and Losers
Winners: MFM, which claims a third title and the largest prize. Ioumabo Pius, whose MVP performance earned her ₦2 million. Women’s basketball in Nigeria, which gains a high-profile final and continued corporate support.
Losers: First Bank, which lost a final it forced into overtime. ASO Queens, which finished fourth despite a competitive season. Women’s sports outside basketball, which lack comparable sponsorship and visibility.
Bottom Line: MFM’s third title in four years is a dynasty. The bigger story is the 20-year sponsorship that made it possible. Nigerian women’s basketball survives on corporate goodwill. It needs a professional structure.