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Unstoppable Dolphins!

By Daily Sports Nigeria on September 27, 2025

From underdogs to unbeaten Zenith Bank League champions

Defying odds and silencing doubts, Dolphins Basketball Club completed a flawless run through the 2025 Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League playoffs to capture their second championship in a decade. The triumph, coming seven years after the death of their founder, Wale Aboderin, has been widely dedicated to his memory, writes PETER AKINBO

“Nobody believed Dolphins would lift the trophy this year.”

Those were the words of coach Peter Akindele as he reflected on Dolphins’ triumph in Surulere, Lagos.

Just a season earlier, the team had suffered heartbreak when three key players defected to rivals MFM barely a month before the playoffs, shattering their title hopes. But under Akindele’s guidance, a young and hungry squad turned doubt into determination, scripting one of the most remarkable championship stories in Nigerian basketball.

Their flawless run reached its peak last Saturday with a dramatic 61-55 overtime win over First Bank at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium.

“Nobody believed Dolphins would win the women’s league this year. Nobody believed it,” Akindele told The PUNCH.

“I am personally so excited to win my first women’s league title in Nigeria. Dolphins last won 10 years ago, and we needed to do it again. This is Dolphins’ second league title, and we give glory to God.”

Club founder Wale Aboderin had been instrumental in establishing the club and investing in infrastructure, including a clubhouse and gymnasium that became the foundation for the team’s development.

For Akindele, the victory carried deep personal significance rooted in his relationship with the late philanthropist.

“The late Wale Aboderin was a very nice person, always ready to help players grow. About 20 years ago, I met him when I had some players whose parents couldn’t pay their school fees. I took them to him in 2005, and he accepted them,” the coach told The PUNCH.

“So when I got this job, I remembered the good work he did. I told the girls that this man left a legacy, and we cannot let it die. My goal was to win the women’s league in his honour, to remember the good he did in players’ lives.”

Challenges and preparation

The journey to championship glory began with adversity. Last season, Dolphins appeared poised for success after defeating MFM in their own tournament, building momentum that suggested a title challenge was imminent. However, they would not go into the league with that full squad.

“Just a month before the league, three of our players left for MFM, and that really scattered the team, and because of that, we could not reach the semi-finals of last year’s play-offs,” Akindele recalled.

The coach refused to let setbacks define his programme. Instead, he returned to the drawing board, rebuilding around a core of young players developed through the club’s grassroots system in Sango Ota, Ogun State.

The preparation proved crucial. Dolphins entered the playoffs having already demonstrated their quality by successfully defending their D.K. Olukoya Women’s Basketball Championship title in July, defeating hosts MFM 43-37 despite losing 50 per cent of their previous championship squad to their opponents.

The new season

The playoffs began with perhaps the most significant statement of intent in recent Nigerian basketball history. On opening night, Dolphins stunned defending champions MFM 51-41, a result that sent shockwaves through the tournament.

MFM had dominated early, racing to a commanding 16-5 first-quarter lead behind the play of international players Wandoo Henbam and Idubamo Beggi, who had featured at the FIBA U-19 Women’s Basketball World Cup earlier that year. Victory seemed a formality as the champions maintained their advantage through three quarters.

Then came the fourth-quarter collapse that would haunt MFM for the remainder of the tournament. Dolphins launched a stunning comeback, taking their first lead of the game through successive three-pointers and holding on for a victory that announced their championship credentials.

Team captain Gbemisola Samuel, leading Dolphins for the first time in a major championship, understood the magnitude of that opening victory.

“Once we won our first game, we knew we had to aim for the final,” she told The PUNCH. “Getting there wasn’t easy, but we worked very hard. With God and the help of our coach, we made it.”

The victory over MFM set the tone for what would become a flawless playoff campaign. Dolphins methodically dismantled every opponent: thrashing Nigeria Customs 81-45, edging Titans, defeating Royal Aces 66-54 in the semi-finals, to set up the final.

It’s the young generation’s turn

Across sports landscapes, it seems there is a general shift to the youth. From Lamine Yamal of football finishing second in the Ballon D’Or rankings at just 18 after achieving unprecedented success from the ages of 16 till now, that same ‘it’s my turn’ drive beats in the Dolphins squad.

The final against First Bank represented the ultimate test of Dolphins’ championship credentials. The “Elephant Girls” entered seeking a record-extending 10th league title, boasting years of championship pedigree and experience that contrasted sharply with Dolphins’ youthful exuberance.

The match lived up to its billing as a classic encounter.

Neither team could establish decisive control through regulation, with scores reading 15-13, 18-17, 14-8, and 6-15 across the four quarters to reach a 53-53 deadlock that necessitated overtime.

Samuel admitted the pressure was overwhelming as her team prepared for the extra period. “Everybody was scared. We were leading by 10 points before they came back, and I don’t know how that happened. But going into overtime, I knew we were going to win. Of course, I was scared because I didn’t want to lose, and the whole team was shaking, but I believed.”

In those crucial five additional minutes, Dolphins displayed the composure that had characterised their entire campaign. They outscored First Bank 8-2 in overtime to secure the 61-55 victory that delivered their second championship since 2015.

Tewobade Mololuwa led the scoring for the new champions with 14 points, while Favour Anari and Samuel each contributed 13 points. Awele Okoh was named tournament MVP, capping a remarkable individual campaign that saw her earn N500,000 in prize money alongside the team’s N7.5 million championship reward.

Built from the grassroots

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Dolphins’ championship run was the youth and local development of their squad. Akindele takes particular pride in the fact that 90 per cent of his players emerged from the club’s grassroots programme.

“Ninety per cent of the girls are from our grassroots programme in Sango Ota. We brought them from secondary schools last year, and now they are champions,” he told The PUNCH.

The youngest player in the entire league, Ajani Amjalat, exemplified this development philosophy. Not only did she contribute significantly to the championship, but she also emerged as the third-highest three-point shooter in the tournament, defying expectations about her experience level.

“That shows the strength of our grassroots system,” Akindele noted with evident pride.

This emphasis on youth development reflects Aboderin’s original vision for the club. The late founder had consistently invested in education alongside basketball, ensuring players developed academically while pursuing their sporting ambitions.

Current director Olumide Oyedeji, a former Olympian and national team captain, has maintained this philosophy since assuming leadership after Aboderin’s death.

“Reaching this milestone is a testament to the foundation laid by our founder during his lifetime, and I am thrilled to be part of this historic moment,” Oyedeji said.

“I was still playing when Aboderin began investing in the team, and after his death, it became essential to continue what he started because he wouldn’t want to see the team falter. For all these years, we have worked diligently with the players and management, and the results are evident.”

Continental ambitions

With domestic success secured, Dolphins now turn their attention to continental competition. Both they and First Bank have earned places in the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Women’s Basketball League Qualifiers, providing an opportunity to represent Nigeria on the international stage.

Akindele, emboldened by his team’s domestic dominance, harbours ambitious plans for continental success.

“We have a goal and a dream, and it is not limited to Nigeria. We are really preparing to go continental. In two weeks, we will start preparation, scouting for more experienced players so that we can make a statement and represent Nigeria well on the continent.”

The coach’s confidence stems from his team’s defensive foundation, which proved crucial in their championship run.

Aboderin legacy lives on

Throughout their championship journey, Dolphins received unwavering support from Aboderin’s widow, Titilayo, who has remained actively involved with the team despite her husband’s passing.

Her commitment to preserving her late husband’s legacy has provided emotional sustenance for players and staff alike.

“She is in charge of the team. She usually calls me every day after our wins. She is a mother, and she does not want her husband’s legacy to die. She keeps supporting us with everything she can,” Akindele said.

For the coach, knowing that Aboderin’s family continues to support the programme validates the effort invested in this championship campaign.

“I know if the late chairman of Dolphins could see me now, he would be happy. His wife has been following, and she’s very happy. The whole family is very happy.”

Champions mentality

As Dolphins celebrate their perfect championship campaign, questions naturally arise about their ability to sustain this level of success. The coach acknowledges that player turnover is inevitable but expresses confidence in his development system’s ability to continually produce talent.

“I am not scared of losing players, because they cannot be with me forever. What I know for sure is that I always have replacements,” Akindele told The PUNCH.

Captain Samuel echoed this optimism, assuring fans they would not endure another decade-long wait for championship success.

“Dolphins fans will not wait another 10 years. This is just the beginning. We are going to put in more work and keep going. People expect a lot from us now, so we will continue to work very hard and give the fans another show.”

The 2025 Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League championship will be remembered not just for Dolphins’ perfect record but for the manner in which they achieved it. Against a backdrop of low expectations and with a roster built primarily from teenage players developed through their grassroots system, they demonstrated that with proper planning, dedication, and belief, any team can achieve greatness.

Their victory serves as a testament to Aboderin’s vision and legacy, proof that his investment in infrastructure and youth development continues to bear fruit even seven years after his death.

Most importantly, it provides inspiration for young players across Nigeria who dream of basketball success. In an era where many talented players seek opportunities abroad, Dolphins have shown that domestic programmes can still achieve excellence through commitment to development and proper planning.

As they prepare for continental competition, Dolphins carry not just their own ambitions but the hopes of Nigerian basketball. Their perfect domestic campaign has established them as worthy representatives, equipped with the youth, energy, and defensive discipline necessary to compete at the highest level.

The wait for championship number three begins now, but given the foundation they have established and the pipeline of talent they continue to develop, it may not be nearly as long as the decade between their first and second titles.

For now, though, the party should continue as the Dolphins relish their moment as the invincible champions who defied every odd to reclaim their place at the summit of Nigerian women’s basketball.

Source Punch Ng

Posted September 27, 2025