Afiemo
Abuja, Nigeria – June 19, 2025
The city of Jos is basking in a renewed basketball glory as Team Plateau’s Under-18 male team claimed the championship title at the 2025 CDS Democracy Day Basketball Tournament in Abuja.
The gripping finale held on June 18th at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium saw Plateau defeat M2 Academy (Abuja) in convincing fashion with a 50–36 scoreline.
From the jump ball, the Jos boys came in with fire in their eyes, imposing their tempo on the game early. Plateau took charge from the opening minutes, closing the first half ahead with a 27–20 lead. But the M2 boys weren’t going to hand over the title that easily.
The third quarter witnessed a more resilient M2 Academy side clawing back to reduce the deficit, ending the period at 36–32. The contest was poised for a tense finish, but the Plateau boys dug deep in the final stretch, dominating both ends of the court and pulling away to seal a 50–36 victory.
The triumph brought more than just pride. Team Plateau earned a ₦500,000 cash prize as winners of the tournament. Star player Chisom Obasi was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the boys' category, a well-deserved recognition for his outstanding performance throughout the championship.
This victory marks Plateau’s first major basketball title since 2006—a 19-year drought finally broken.
Earlier in the day, the Plateau Under-18 female team wrapped up their campaign on a bittersweet note, falling to TNT 39–15 in their final game. Despite the loss, they secured third place overall and walked away with a ₦200,000 prize.
Team Kaduna’s girls emerged dominant, going unbeaten throughout the competition and clinching the top spot. Kaduna’s Ochuko Onomajo was voted the MVP of the female category for her exceptional play and leadership.
Organized as part of Democracy Day celebrations by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the championship brought together young basketball talents from various states including FCT, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau.
The event served not just as a platform for competition, but also for promoting unity, youth engagement and sports development across Nigeria.
As the Plateau camp wakes up to the sweet reality of victory, one thing is clear: the future of basketball in Jos is once again moving in the right direction. The morning after is not just a new day it’s a new beginning.
