Dolphins Coach Peter Akindele, President Olumide Oyedeji, and MVP/captain Okoh Awele said the team’s triumph in the Zenith Bank Nigeria Women’s Basketball League is built on defence and hard work.
In an interview with www.aclsports.com, they shared what drove the team to victory, the role of their development programs, and their plans for the Zonal qualifiers of the Africa Women Basketball League (AWBL), in which both Dolphins and First Bank will represent Nigeria.
Dolphins ended a decade-long wait to lift the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League trophy, defeating First Bank 61–55 in an electrifying overtime final at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The victory secured their second league title since 2015 and the new ₦7.5 million prize.
Coach Akindele credited disciplined defence for the win. “Our defence helped us a lot in securing the win, especially today when our shooting wasn’t clicking, so we had to stay compact and defend well,” he said. He also highlighted the importance of nurturing homegrown talent: “Ninety percent of the girls are from our grassroots program in Sango Ota. We brought them from secondary schools last year, and now they are champions.”
Reflecting on the victory, Akindele added, “Thank God we won this one. We will never relent. We have a ticket to the Zonal Qualifiers for the AWBL, so we will go back and prepare properly.”
Dolphins’ President, former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji, praised the players and staff: “Hard work pays off. I just enjoyed the game and was happy to see the girls playing. We’ll continue to support them and prepare for the AWBL Zonal Qualifiers. Consistency is key.”
The tournament MVP and team captain, Okoh Awele, who received ₦500,000 for her outstanding performance, attributed her success to teamwork, guidance, and faith. “It was my teammates, my coach, and God. We will go back, work hard, and come back stronger to represent Nigeria in the AWBL Zonal Qualifiers.”
Dolphins’ win underscores the value of defence, hard work, and grassroots development, paving the way for both domestic and international opportunities.
