Nigeria’s Female Basketball: Rising Ambition from Modest Courts

Abuja, Nigeria – Khamila Sani Ibrahim grew up in Kano state, northern Nigeria, where opportunities for girls to play organized sports were limited and the sight of women on a basketball court was uncommon. During school holidays spent with her grandparents, she had to juggle training while meeting family expectations.

“It was very hard for me to practice basketball. I would only go to the court when no one was at home, or I would tell them I was visiting friends, and then from there I would go to the court,” Ibrahim said.

In many communities across northern Nigeria, basketball and football have long been seen as male sports. Girls who wanted to play faced barriers such as a lack of courts, equipment, coaches, funding, and few competitive opportunities.

Finding Their Place on the Court

Now, through the grassroots initiative Grassroots To Greatness (G2G), which focuses on empowering women in sports, young girls are getting the chance to train, compete, and develop their skills. Jawahir Bello, a youth sports advocate, founded the initiative after noticing how few opportunities existed for girls in the region.

At tournaments, female players wear specially designed hijabs, long sports jackets, and tight-fitting trousers. “Our core value is to participate in sports without compromising our cultural values or Islamic identity,” Bello told Al Jazeera. “Whether you wear a hijab or undergarments beneath your jersey, modesty is paramount. You step onto the court looking decent, respectable, and fully covered.”

Despite anticipating some community resistance when organizing all-female tournaments and community training sessions, Bello said she received support from community stakeholders. To mobilize participants, G2G works directly with grassroots coaches running local teams.

A Tournament of Their Own

When Ibrahim represented Kano State at an inter-state G2G tournament featuring female players from nine states, she found herself competing in an entirely different environment compared to the local boys’ teams she had previously played with, where girls were often undervalued.

“G2G has done something truly remarkable for us. They provided jerseys, separate hijabs, basketballs, travel expenses, and even stipends for all teams, regardless of winning or losing. That made us feel appreciated and valued,” Ibrahim said.

Fatima Diouf, a young player living in Abuja, started playing basketball at school when she was 11. She joined G2G to challenge herself against stronger opponents. Although her team did not reach the final, she left the tournament with valuable lessons.

“I learned so much, not just about basketball. I learned teamwork, confidence, discipline, and how to keep improving yourself,” Diouf shared.

Challenges Beyond the Court

For Ibrahim, finding time to practice on the court has never been easy. She has had to overcome self-doubt and dismissive attitudes from boys who believed girls could not compete equally. She also balances intense training with household chores and schoolwork.

Mansur Abdullahi, assistant coach of Nigeria’s U-20 women’s football team, the Falconets, believes community coaches and organizations can help create opportunities for young athletes that larger sports structures cannot reach. “Official sports agencies have large structures, but local groups build trust and cultural understanding. Only through community-led initiatives can professional teams understand what is acceptable for men and women, and how to align sports with existing values rather than conflict with them.”

Dreaming of the Pinnacle

For many participants, the tournaments are a chance to test themselves against new opponents and think about next steps. Before joining G2G, Ibrahim’s father had worried that competitive sports might conflict with family norms. But after watching his daughter play, seeing the athletic wear and the professional environment, he became one of her biggest supporters.

“I want to earn a college athletic scholarship in the U.S. and then play professionally. More importantly, I want other Muslim girls across northern Nigeria to see that sports make you healthy, strong, and confident, and that nothing can stop you from pursuing your dreams,” Ibrahim said.

Seeing the network of coaches and organizers at the tournament also broadened Diouf’s horizons, helping her envision playing in other African countries in the future.

For G2G, the ambition does not stop at organizing a women-only tournament. Bello wants the program to show girls that they belong in sports and can compete without giving up their identity. “You can maintain your identity, dress modestly, and still achieve success in life,” Bello said.