The 8th Afro Varsity 3×3 Basketball Challenge, popularly called the FASU 3×3 Basketball Challenge after its organising body, commenced on Sunday, 31st May, 2026 at the International Conference Centre (ICC) car park.
The event, which brings together students from universities across the continent, is also the official qualification pathway for the FISU University World Cup 3×3 Basketball— the premier international university basketball competition organised by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).
3×3 basketball is traditionally played on a half-court with a 10-minute time limit or a first-to-21 scoring threshold. This year’s edition of the annual tournament features 16 men’s teams split across four pools of four, and 12 women’s teams in four pools of three. Each team faces each of the other members in its pool once, with the top two from each pool advancing directly to the quarter-finals.
Team Groupings
Men’s Category
- Pool A: University of Ibadan (NGR), Kisii University (TAN), Ecole Supérieure des Sciences et Technologies/ESST(BEN), Unilorin Knights (NGR)
- Pool B: Uganda Christian University/UCU (UGA), OAU Lions (NGR), Nile University (NGR), University of Cape Coast/Team UCC (GHA)
- Pool C: United States International University-Africa/USIU Africa (KEN), University of Abuja (NGR), University of Ghana (GHA), ABUAD (NGR)
- Pool D: The Haute École de Commerce de Kinshasa/HEC Kinshasa (COD), University of Lagos (NGR), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi/KNUST (GHA), LAUTECH Ogbomosho (NGR)
Women’s Category
- Pool A: University of Ibadan (NGR), Unilorin (NGR), ESST (BEN)
- Pool B: UCU (UGA), ABUAD (NGR), University of Abuja (NGR)
- Pool C: USIU Africa (KEN), OAU Queens (NGR), University of Ghana (GHA)
- Pool D: Kisii University (TAN), University of Lagos (NGR), KNUST (GHA)
UI men cruise; women exit early
Hosts UI, placed in pool A, got the tournament underway on Court 1, defeating Kisii University of Tanzania 21-7 before following up with a 17-11 win over ESST of Benin. Unilorin Knights remain the only pool opponents yet to be played, as the team eyes a perfect 3/3.
In the women’s category however, it wasn’t the case. Back-to-back losses — 5-13 to Unilorin and 5-14 to ESST — confirmed an early exit from Pool A. In the final match of the pool, ESST sealed qualification and first place with a 17-8 victory over Unilorin.
Nile stun world champions
Other standout performances included NUGA basketball champions Nile University topping Pool B with three wins from three, capped by a memorable 20-17 triumph over world champions UCU. OAU Lions suffered an ignominious exit from the same pool, falling to UCU, UCC and Nile 13-17, 6-16 and 12-21 respectively.
Mixed Nigerian fortunes
UNILAG’s men were also eliminated early, despite having one game remaining to play, after losing to HEC Kinshasa — who shook off a late arrival to edge them 14-13 — and to LAUTECH Ogbomosho 16-17. Both HEC and LAUTECH qualified after winning their first two matches and square off on Monday for top spot in Pool D.
In Pool C, USIU Africa leads after wins over University of Abuja and University of Ghana, with their final group game against ABUAD still to be played. University of Abuja had initially kept their qualification hopes alive with a narrow 17-16 win over ABUAD after falling 21-14 to USIU Africa in their opener, but lost the decider 19-17 to the University of Ghana.
Women’s quarter-finalists taking shape
In the women’s category, UCU dominated Pool B, sweeping ABUAD 21-3 and University of Abuja 21-11, with University of Abuja claiming second. OAU Queens, in stark contrast to their male counterparts, topped Pool C after 15-11 and 13-8 victories over USIU Africa and University of Ghana respectively. University of Lagos also booked their quarter-final spot in similar fashion, with 15-10 and 13-5 victories over Kisii University and KNUST.
The day’s action extended well past the roosting of the sun, drawing to a close around 11:30 PM. The action continues on Monday.
Day 1 all results
Men’s Category
Pool A
University of Ibadan (NGR) 21 – 7 Kisii University (TAN)
ESST (BEN) 21 – 13 Unilorin Knights (NGR)
Kisii University (TAN) 14 – 16 Unilorin Knights (NGR)
University of Ibadan (NGR) 17 – 11 ESST (BEN)
ESST (BEN) 21 – 11 Kisii University (TAN)
Pool B
UCU (UGA) 17 – 13 OAU Lions (NGR)
Nile University (NGR) 18 – 16 Team UCC (GHA)
OAU Lions (NGR) 6 – 16 Team UCC (GHA)
UCU (UGA) 17 – 20 Nile University (NGR)
Nile University (NGR) 21 – 12 OAU Lions (NGR)
Pool C
USIU Africa (KEN) 21 – 14 University of Abuja (NGR)
University of Ghana (GHA) 19 – 14 ABUAD (NGR)
University of Abuja (NGR) 17 – 16 ABUAD (NGR)
USIU Africa (KEN) 21 – 11 University of Ghana (GHA)
University of Ghana (GHA) 19 – 17 University of Abuja (NGR)
Pool D
HEC Kinshasa (COD) 14 – 13 University of Lagos (NGR)
KNUST (GHA) 12 – 21 LAUTECH Ogbomosho (NGR)
University of Lagos (NGR) 16 – 17 LAUTECH Ogbomosho (NGR)
HEC Kinshasa (COD) 20 – 15 KNUST (GHA)
HEC Kinshasa vs LAUTECH Ogbomosho — pending
Women’s Category
Pool A
University of Ibadan (NGR) 5 – 13 Unilorin (NGR)
ESST (BEN) 17 – 8 Unilorin (NGR)
University of Ibadan (NGR) 5 – 14 ESST (BEN)
Pool B
UCU (UGA) 21 – 3 ABUAD (NGR)
University of Abuja (NGR) 11 – 6 ABUAD (NGR)
UCU (UGA) 21 – 11 University of Abuja (NGR)
Pool C
USIU Africa (KEN) 11 – 15 OAU Queens (NGR)
University of Ghana (GHA) 8 – 13 OAU Queens (NGR)
USIU Africa (KEN) 14 – 4 University of Ghana (GHA)
Pool D
Kisii University (TAN) 10 – 15 University of Lagos (NGR)
KNUST (GHA) 5 – 13 University of Lagos (NGR)
