CDS Unity Basketball Tournament Set to Dunk Off in Lagos

As Nigeria gears up to celebrate its 65th independence anniversary, organisers have confirmed that the fourth edition of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Unity Basketball South-West Tournament will begin on September 30 in Lagos, Sport360NG reports.

The six-day competition, which runs until October 5, will take place across two venues, the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium and the Molade Okoya-Thomas Sports Hall at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Nigeria Armed Forces Resettlement Centre in Lagos, Brigadier General Aliyu Lawal (retd.) said the championship reflects the CDS’s commitment to fostering unity through sport.

“The organisation of this championship aligns with the Chief of Defence Staff’s leadership vision of nurturing a professional Armed Forces that is people-oriented and capable of fulfilling its constitutional duties in a joint and collaborative manner,” Lawal noted.

He added that the competition aims to promote peaceful coexistence in the South-West while providing youths with a positive outlet.

Twelve teams from the region and neighbouring states will feature, including Hoops and Reed (Lagos), Sports Nation 365 (Lagos), University of Ibadan, Oluyole Warriors (Ibadan), Ondo Raiders, Ogun Rockets, Osun United, Dodan Warriors (Lagos), Ekiti Fountain, Delta Force, Edo Beads, and Police Baton.

To encourage participation, each team will receive N800,000 to support logistics, while a total prize pool of N10 million will be shared among the top finishers.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for October 2, with the grand finale and closing event on October 5.

Former national team captain and member of the Local Organising Committee, Olumide Oyedeji, emphasised the wider impact of the competition.

“The overall aim is to promote basketball and ensure it reaches the level it deserves. Beyond that, it’s about fostering unity and giving players a platform for exposure. The excitement among the teams shows how much they value the opportunity to compete at this stage,” Oyedeji said.