The Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Women’s Basketball Team have emerged champions of the inaugural all-women edition of the Louis Edem West Africa Basketball Championship.
MFM defeated Nigerian basketball powerhouse First Bank 49–41 in a thrilling final played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, to claim the historic title.
The victory marks a significant achievement for the Lagos-based side, which secured its place in the final after overcoming Victoria Queens 52–39 in the semi-final.
First Bank, meanwhile, had booked its place in the championship match after defeating Ghana’s GRA Ladies Basketball Team 68–35.
MFM Overcome First Bank in All-Nigerian Final
The final brought together two of Nigeria’s established women’s basketball teams, with MFM eventually pulling away to secure a 49–41 victory over First Bank.
The result handed MFM the first-ever women’s title in the Louis Edem West Africa Basketball Championship.
Victoria Queens claimed third place after defeating GRA of Ghana 54–48 in the third-place encounter.
From Men’s Tournament to Women’s Championship
The Louis Edem Basketball Championship has been held since 2023 and initially began as a men’s competition.
The tournament later expanded to accommodate women’s teams, with the 2026 edition representing a major milestone as the first edition exclusively featuring women’s clubs.
The competition also provided an opportunity for teams from across West Africa to compete against some of Nigeria’s leading basketball sides.
Promoting Basketball and Youth Development
Speaking after the tournament, organiser Louis Edem described the championship as another significant achievement for the Louis Edem Foundation.
He highlighted the participation of Ghana’s GRA team, noting that competing against elite Nigerian teams could help the Ghanaian players improve their performances in their domestic league.
Edem also emphasised the broader importance of the competition, particularly its role in promoting regional and youth cooperation through sport. (Punch Newspapers)
Victoria Queens captain Toluwani Arogundade also praised the tournament, describing it as a valuable experience for her team as it prepares for the 2026 Women’s Basketball League season.
One of the tournament’s sponsors, B4 Sail Finance Ltd, similarly described the championship as an avenue for investing in young Nigerians through sports.
The company’s Business Development Officer, Oluwatobiloba Oladipupo, said sports can help young people develop discipline, teamwork and resilience.
For MFM, however, the championship ended with a trophy, and a historic first title in the women’s edition of the Louis Edem West Africa Basketball Championship.
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