MFM pocket N7.5m Zenith League prize
Muthmainah Ishola
It was a naira rain for the top finishers of the 2026 NBBF/Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League as champions MFM pocketed N7.5m after edging First Bank 66-64 in an overtime thriller in Lagos on Saturday.
First Bank received N5m as runners-up, while Nigeria Customs settled for N3m after defeating Savannah Conference rivals ASO Queens 51-38 in the third-place match.
MFM claimed their third title in four years after surviving a late scare from record champions First Bank, who forced the game into overtime before the champions held their nerve to secure the two-point victory.
The final lived up to expectations as both sides battled fiercely, with MFM eventually emerging with the title and the biggest share of the prize money.
Speaking at the final, Zenith Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dame Adaora Umeoji, OON, represented by Executive Director Adamu Lawani, described all the participating teams as winners while reaffirming the bank’s commitment to the development of
women’s basketball.
“All of you already inspire every young girl watching from the stands tonight,” Lawani said.
“Zenith Bank remains committed to the game. We’ll be here next season and the seasons after.”
He congratulated MFM on their victory and praised First Bank for pushing the champions to the limit.
Individual performers were also rewarded with cash prizes, with MFM’s Ioumabo Pius emerging as the biggest beneficiary.
Pius, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, received N2m in total.
She first earned N500,000 for making the Tournament Top Five before receiving another N500,000 from Zenith Bank for winning the MVP award. Dam Foundations and Xejet added N500,000 each to her earnings.
Other players in the Tournament Top Five were Favour Anari of ASO Queens, Nwaado Hemban of MFM, Nkem Akaraiwe of Nigeria Customs and Marilyn Ofidibe of First Bank.
Zenith Bank has supported the women’s basketball league for 20 years and reiterated its commitment to its continued development.
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