Organisers of the 4th Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Unity Basketball Championship have announced that over N10 million in prize money will be distributed among winners when the tournament tips off in Lagos from September 30 to October 5, 2025.
The overall champion will receive N2 million, while the first and second runners-up will pocket N1.5 million and N1 million respectively.
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Twelve teams are confirmed for the six-day competition, including Fountains Basketball Club (Ekiti), Hoop and Read (Lagos), Dordan Warriors (Lagos), Sports Nation 365 (Lagos), Ogun Rockets, Ondo Raiders, Osun United, Oluyole Warriors (Oyo), University of Ibadan Club (Oyo), Edo Beads, Delta Force and Police Baton (Lagos).
Speaking at the press briefing in Lagos on Friday, September 26, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Brig. Gen. Aliyu Abdulahi (rtd), said the championship reflects the CDS’s people-centric leadership pillar.
“The CDS mantra is to nurture a professional Armed Forces of Nigeria that is people-centric, capable of meeting its constitutional responsibilities in a joint and collaborative environment,” Abdulahi explained.
“This leverages the participation of the populace in countering security challenges as part of our non-kinetic operations initiatives.”
The championship will be staged across two venues: the indoor arenas of the National Stadium and Teslim Balogun Stadium, both in Surulere, Lagos.
“The Chief of Defence Staff is a passionate lover of sport and an ardent basketballer who strongly believes in the power of sport as a unifying force, particularly in promoting peace,” Abdulahi added.
