Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
MFM Women Basketball Team and First Bank will meet in the final of the 2026 NBBF/Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League on Saturday, October 3, after both teams survived closely contested semi-final matches at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
First Bank defeated debutants ASO SKY Queens 61-57 in the first semi-final, while MFM edged Nigeria Customs 64-61 to secure their place in the championship game.
The final, scheduled for 4pm in Lagos, brings together two teams with significant histories in Nigeria’s women’s basketball league. First Bank are seeking a record-extending 10th championship, while MFM are pursuing their third title after winning back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024.
Two Atlantic Conference Teams Reach the Final
The championship decider will be an all-Atlantic Conference affair, with MFM and First Bank emerging from the eight-team Final Eight tournament to compete for the national title.
Both sides had already established themselves among the leading teams entering the Final Eight.
MFM qualified for the championship phase after an unbeaten campaign across the first and second phases of the Atlantic Conference. First Bank also secured a place among the final eight teams after their Atlantic Conference campaign.
The Final Eight brought together four teams from each of the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences, with the competition moving through group-stage matches before the semi-finals and championship game.
The other teams in the Final Eight were Nigeria Customs, ASO SKY Queens, Titans, Air Warriors, Victoria Queens and Bayelsa Blue Whales.
First Bank Survive ASO SKY Queens Test
First Bank reached the final after overcoming ASO SKY Queens 61-57 in a competitive semi-final.
The result secured another championship appearance for the nine-time league winners and ended ASO SKY Queens’ run at the Final Eight stage.
First Bank’s qualification also marked their 15th appearance in the league’s final in the last 20 years, according to information published by Zenith Bank. The achievement underlines the club’s long-standing presence at the top end of Nigerian women’s basketball.
The Lagos-based club entered the 2026 competition with nine league titles and a further opportunity to reach double figures.
First Bank have not won the league since 2018, despite remaining regular contenders in the latter stages of the competition. They were also runners-up to Dolphins in the 2025 final.
The 2026 final therefore gives the club another opportunity to add to a championship record that already makes it the most successful team in the history of the competition.
MFM Edge Nigeria Customs in Second Semi-Final
MFM booked the other final place after defeating Nigeria Customs 64-61.
The three-point victory reflected the competitiveness of the semi-final stage, with both finalists having to negotiate narrow margins to reach the championship game.
MFM’s progression continues a strong recent period for the club in the women’s league.
The team won consecutive league championships in 2023 and 2024 before Dolphins claimed the 2025 title. MFM are now back in the final with the opportunity to reclaim the trophy they lost last season.
Before the Final Eight, MFM had been one of the standout teams in the Atlantic Conference, winning all of their games during the first and second phases.
Their consistent results helped establish them as one of the leading contenders entering the national championship phase.
A Final Between Two Recent Champions
The meeting between MFM and First Bank brings together contrasting championship records.
First Bank have the longer history, with nine league titles, while MFM’s recent success has come in the period following the league’s return to competitive action after disruptions in previous years.
MFM won the 2023 and 2024 editions, establishing themselves as one of the strongest teams in the league during that period.
Dolphins interrupted that run in 2025, defeating First Bank in last year’s final to claim the championship. Dolphins, however, failed to qualify for this year’s Final Eight after finishing outside the top four in the Atlantic Conference.
Their absence means a new champion will emerge in 2026.
For MFM, victory would restore the club to the top of the competition after one season without the trophy. For First Bank, a win would bring the club’s championship tally to 10.
Those are historical milestones rather than guarantees of the outcome, with Saturday’s game to determine which side finishes the season as champion.
How the Final Eight Developed
The 2026 Final Eight began in Lagos on September 28 and featured eight teams that emerged from the Atlantic and Savannah Conference campaigns.
MFM, ASO SKY Queens, Titans and Bayelsa Blue Whales were placed in Group A, while Nigeria Customs, First Bank, Victoria Queens and Air Warriors competed in Group B.
MFM and ASO SKY Queens secured the semi-final places from Group A, while Nigeria Customs and First Bank progressed from Group B.
First Bank opened their Final Eight campaign with a 68-57 victory over Victoria Queens before defeating Air Warriors 54-39.
Nigeria Customs also began with a 55-41 victory over Air Warriors before defeating Victoria Queens 61-26.
In Group A, ASO SKY Queens defeated Titans 55-36 and Bayelsa Blue Whales 53-30, while MFM recorded victories over Bayelsa Blue Whales and Titans to advance to the last four.
The results set up the semi-final pairings that ultimately produced the MFM-First Bank final.
Nigeria Customs and ASO SKY Queens to Contest Third Place
While MFM and First Bank prepare for the championship game, Nigeria Customs and ASO SKY Queens will meet in the third-place match.
The fixture is scheduled for 2pm on Saturday, two hours before the championship final.
Nigeria Customs entered the Final Eight as the unbeaten winners of the Savannah Conference, while ASO SKY Queens emerged as one of the notable teams from the same conference.
ASO SKY Queens also made history by reaching the Final Eight in their debut campaign and subsequently progressing to the semi-finals.
Their 61-57 defeat to First Bank ended their hopes of reaching the final, but the team remains in contention for a podium finish.
Dolphins Miss Out on Title Defence
One of the notable features of this year’s competition has been the absence of defending champions Dolphins.
The club won the 2025 championship after defeating First Bank in the final but failed to finish among the top four teams in the Atlantic Conference during the 2026 campaign.
As a result, Dolphins were unable to participate in the Final Eight and defend their title.
Their absence has guaranteed a new champion for 2026 and opened the championship race to the teams that reached the final phase.
For MFM and First Bank, the opportunity has now been reduced to one final game.
Zenith Bank and the Development of Women’s Basketball
The competition is organised by the Nigeria Basketball Federation in partnership with Zenith Bank, which has supported the national women’s basketball league for many years.
Zenith Bank’s 2025 annual report states that the bank partnered with the Nigerian Basketball Federation to stage the Zenith National Women’s Basketball League as part of its sports and female-empowerment initiatives.
The sponsorship has helped sustain a national competition where female basketball players can compete domestically and develop their careers.
The league also serves as an important pathway for players seeking opportunities with Nigeria’s senior women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress. Several players who have represented Nigeria have emerged through the domestic competition.
This makes the competition significant beyond the final result.
For younger players, regular domestic competition provides opportunities to develop technical skills, tactical understanding, physical preparation and experience in high-pressure matches.
Lagos Hosts the Championship Decider
The Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Surulere has been the centre of the 2026 Final Eight.
The venue has hosted the tournament’s decisive matches, including the semi-finals that produced Saturday’s finalists.
The final will bring the tournament to its conclusion after several days of group-stage and knockout basketball.
The third-place match between Nigeria Customs and ASO SKY Queens will begin at 2pm, followed by the MFM-First Bank final at 4pm.
The schedule provides an opportunity for supporters to see the final two games of the 2026 championship phase at the same venue.
Why the Final Matters
The MFM-First Bank final represents more than a contest between two established clubs.
For First Bank, the game offers an opportunity to add a 10th national championship to a record that already includes nine titles.
For MFM, the match provides a chance to secure a third championship and return to the top of a competition the club dominated in 2023 and 2024.
The final also reflects the competitive depth of Nigerian women’s basketball.
The fact that MFM and First Bank emerged from a Final Eight that included teams from both major conference structures demonstrates the importance of the domestic league in providing competitive opportunities for women’s clubs.
The tournament has also provided a platform for less established teams, including ASO SKY Queens, to compete against clubs with longer championship histories.
The result of Saturday’s final will determine which of the two finalists adds another chapter to its history.
What Happens Next
The immediate next step is the championship final between MFM Women Basketball Team and First Bank at 4pm on Saturday, October 3, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Nigeria Customs and ASO SKY Queens will contest the third-place match at 2pm.
The championship game will determine the 2026 NBBF/Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League winner.
First Bank are pursuing a 10th title, while MFM are seeking their third championship after their victories in 2023 and 2024.
Until the final is played, neither historical record nor recent form determines the winner. The championship will be decided on the court.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch Newspapers — report on the MFM and First Bank semi-final victories and the 2026 league final.
- Zenith Bank — official information on its partnership with the Nigerian Basketball Federation and support for the women’s basketball league.
- The Guardian Nigeria — report on the 2026 Final Eight qualification and tournament schedule.
- THISDAY — report on the Final Eight semi-final qualification and group-stage results.
- Sports Unlimited — report on the MFM-First Bank final and semi-final results.
