Nigeria Targets Continental Dominance In Baseball & Softball
By FRED LONGJOHN OBEH
NIGERIA is set to become Africa’s hub for baseball and softball, according to the President of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation (NBSF), Uche Odozor.
Odozor, who also leads the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) Africa, said plans are underway to establish the African headquarters of the sport in Nigeria. He described the move as a major opportunity to drive growth for baseball, softball, and the emerging Baseball5 variant across the continent.
“Africa is now a fertile ground for world-class baseball talent — resilient, tough, and fast athletes,” Odozor said in Abuja, noting that better leadership will unlock the sport’s full potential in Africa.
He cited global examples of baseball’s economic power, including record deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars, saying the sport offers vast commercial and lifestyle opportunities for Africa.
Odozor identified Abuja’s Moshood Abiola Stadium and the Ilorin Baseball Facility as potential continental centres and thanked Nigerian sports authorities for backing the country’s new leadership role.
He added that baseball and softball will feature for the first time at the 27th Nigeria University Games (NUGA) in Jos from 6–16 November, marking another milestone in Nigeria’s effort to lead the sport’s growth in Africa.
