Maktown Flyers Ready to Fly Nigeria’s Flag in 2026 BAL Sahara Conference
The Maktown Flyers, Nigeria’s newest basketball powerhouse, are preparing to carry the nation’s flag in the upcoming Basketball Africa League (BAL) Sahara Conference, scheduled to run from April 24 to May 3 in Rabat.
The Flyers, hailing from Makurdi, popularly known as ‘Maktown’, stunned the Nigerian basketball scene in 2025 by clinching the national title against all odds.
Having acquired the Lagos Legends’ rights just weeks before the championship, the team went on to secure the title under the Legends’ name before officially rebranding as the Maktown Flyers.
Their dramatic 74-72 victory over the Rivers Hoopers in November 2025 marked one of the biggest upsets in Nigerian basketball history, propelling them from relative obscurity to continental recognition.
The Flyers now join the Rivers Hoopers and Kwara Falcons as the third Nigerian team to compete in the BAL.
Key figures in the squad include Patrick Abah, the 2025 Nigerian Basketball League MVP; Chris Obekpa, a former G League player with the Santa Cruz Warriors and BAL veteran with stints at ABC Fighters, AS Douanes, and SLAC; and Thomas Agbo, whose pivotal role in the title run cemented his place as a core team member.
At the helm is Abdulrahman Mohammed, former Nigerian international and ex-head coach of the national team, who replaced championship-winning coach Michael Ikima.
Ikima remains part of the coaching staff, while fellow ex-international Jeff Varem has also joined, bringing experience from AfroBasket 2005 and the 2006 World Cup.
The team is led by principal owner Manasseh Achii, an entrepreneur from Makurdi. Under his vision, the Flyers describe themselves as ‘a modern African basketball institution that is rooted locally, structured professionally, and connected globally.’
With their rapid rise from youth basketball programs to national champions, the Flyers are now setting their sights on making a mark at the continental level in Morocco.
