The University of Ibadan on Monday, 1st June, 2026, recorded a historic gold medal triumph in the 8th FASU Afro Varsity 3×3 Basketball Challenge, beating Nile University 19-14 to qualify for the FISU 3×3 World Cup scheduled for October in Macau, China.
After clinching bronze in the previous edition, the host team orchestrated a spectacular run to the final. They went undefeated throughout the competition, notably dispatching tournament favourites, four-time winners, and defending champions Uganda Christian University (UCU) in the process.
UI men claim historic gold
UI sealed their quarter-final spot as Pool A winners after defeating Unilorin Knights 20-12 in their final group match. Up next was a tricky tie against the University of Ghana, but the hosts edged the victory 21-18. In the semi-finals, experienced opponents in UCU awaited. However, the team put up a highly disciplined display to run out 20-13 victors, setting up an all-Nigerian final against Nile University.
The triumphant UI squad, consisting of Jucal Adefokun, Oluwatomiwa Olofintila, Timothy Olomola, and Bello Oluwatobiloba, will now turn their attention to training for the global stage in Macau.
Nile’s impressive run halted
NUGA champions Nile University also arrived at the final with a flawless record, finishing top of a Pool B that featured two past winners in UCU and UCC (2023). They swept LAUTECH 21-8 in the quarter-finals and defeated USIU-Africa, FISU 2025 quarter-finalists, and a team that had made two of the last three finals, 21-15 in the semis. But ultimately, the final hurdle against a resolute UI side proved one too many for them.
In the men’s third-place fixture, USIU-Africa settled for bronze with a determined 21-13 showing against UCU.
UCU Lady Canons reign supreme
In the women’s category, UCU Lady Canons clinched their fourth championship by beating USIU-Africa 21-15. The victory marks their third consecutive title and follows triumphs in 2021, 2024, and 2025. For USIU-Africa, the gold medal still remains elusive and they had to settle for a fourth successive silver medal.
The UCU Lady Canons had previously made history as the first African university women’s team to win a medal on the global stage, finishing with bronze at the 2025 FISU World Cup in Brazil after a narrow 16-17 overtime loss in the semi-finals. This year, they will be joined by the University of Ibadan men’s team to fly the continent’s flag on the world stage come October.
UNILAG Women clinch bronze in tight finish
OAU Queens and UNILAG both continued their bright campaigns from the group stages, making it all the way to the semi-finals where they lost out 7-16 and 9-11 to UCU and USIU-Africa respectively. Prior to that, OAU Queens had swept Unilorin aside 12-1 in the quarters, while UNILAG required overtime to see off the University of Abuja 12-10.
The battle for women’s bronze was a fiercely contested affair and was decided by the minutest of margins, with UNILAG winning 8-7.
Day Two all results
Men’s Category
(Note: Pool matches concluded early on Day Two before moving directly into the knockout rounds.)
Unilorin Knights (NGR) 12 – 20 University of Ibadan (NGR) [Pool A]
Team UCC (GHA) 18 – 19 UCU (UGA) [Pool B]
ABUAD (NGR) 16 – 21 USIU Africa (KEN) [Pool C]
KNUST (GHA) 17 – 18 University of Lagos (NGR) [Pool D]
LAUTECH Ogbomosho (NGR) 12 – 14 HEC Kinshasa (COD) [Pool D]
Quarter-Finals
University of Ibadan (NGR) 21 – 18 University of Ghana (GHA)
HEC Kinshasa (COD) 9 – 13 UCU (UGA)
Nile University (NGR) 21 – 8 LAUTECH Ogbomosho (NGR)
USIU Africa (KEN) 21 – 14 ESST (BEN)
Semi-Finals
University of Ibadan (NGR) 20 – 13 UCU (UGA)
Nile University (NGR) 21 – 15 USIU Africa (KEN)
3rd Place Match
UCU (UGA) 13 – 21 USIU Africa (KEN)
Final
University of Ibadan (NGR) 19 – 14 Nile University (NGR)
Women’s Category
Kisii University (TAN) 21 – 5 KNUST (GHA) [Pool D]
(Note: Pools A, B, and C concluded their group stages earlier in Day One without any remaining fixtures).
Quarter-Finals
ESST (BEN) 16 – 21 USIU Africa (KEN)
University of Lagos (NGR) 12 – 10 University of Abuja (NGR) (OT)
UCU (UGA) 14 – 8 Kisii University (TAN)
OAU Queens (NGR) 12 – 1 Unilorin (NGR)
Semi-Finals
USIU Africa (KEN) 11 – 9 University of Lagos (NGR)
UCU (UGA) 16 – 7 OAU Queens (NGR)
3rd Place Match
University of Lagos (NGR) 8 – 7 OAU Queens (NGR)
Final
USIU Africa (KEN) 15 – 21 UCU (UGA)