Hoops Beyond Borders: Basketball in Nigeria with Murtala Abdullahi

In this episode of Beyond the Court, we explore one of the most exciting and underestimated basketball ecosystems in the world - Nigeria.My guest is Murtala Abdullahi, coach who works daily with young Nigerian players dreaming of professional and international careers. This is a deep look at how basketball actually works on the ground in Nigeria:You’ll hear about: • Why basketball is growing fast in a football-dominated country • Where Nigerian kids really learn the game - academies, schools, or street courts • What Nigerian players are naturally good at and where they struggle • How much “athleticism” is real, and how much is myth • How coaches try to build basketball IQ, discipline, and decision-making • Whether there are enough games and competition to truly develop players • The real pathways Nigerian players use to reach Europe or the USA • What needs to change for Nigerian basketball to reach the next levelWe also close with powerful advice for young Nigerian players who dream of going international, what actually matters, and what most people get wrong.