Kwara Falcons

Kwara Falcons
Kwara Falcons logo
ConferenceAtlantic
LeaguesNigerian Premier League
Founded1980
HistoryKwara Falcons
(1980–present)
LocationIlorin, Kwara, Nigeria
PresidentAliu Jubril
Head coachBaba Jubril
Team captainAjileye Seyi Gideon
Championships1 (2022)

The Kwara Falcons are a Nigerian basketball team based in Ilorin, Kwara. The team plays in the Nigerian Premier League and has won one championship in 2022. Following their national championship, the Falcons also competed in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in 2023.

Founded in 1980, the Falcons play their home game in the indoor sports complex of the Kwara Stadium.[1]

History

The Kwara Falcons were founded in 1980.

The Kwara Falcons were promoted to the Premier League in 2013, after winning the Atlantic Conference in the Division 1.[2] In their first season in the top-flight, the Falcons managed to avoid relegation. In 2015, the team finished third in the Atlantic Conference, behind star players such as Baba Jubril, Lanre Alimi and Tunde El-Alawa.[2] In 2016 and 2017, the Falcons reached the semi-finals of the national championship.

In 2018, Kwara were the runners-up of the Premier League, finishing only behind Rivers Hoopers.[3]

On November 12, 2022, the Falcons won their first-ever national championship after winning the 2022 season. As a result, they qualified directly for the 2023 season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).[4]

For their inaugural BAL season, the Falcons strengthened their roster with AJ Wilson, Michael Kolawole and Jeremiah Mordi.[5] The Falcons were drawn into the Sahara Conference and lost all five of its games.[6]

Honours

Nigerian Premier League

  • Champions (1): 2022
    • Runner-up (1): 2018
      • Third place (1): 2019

Louis Edem Invitational Tournament

  • Winners (1): 2023[7]

Players

Main category: Kwara Falcons players

2023 roster

The following Kwara Falcons roster played in the 2023 BAL season.

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Kwara Falcons roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
G 00 Nigeria Oriakhi, Michael 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 21 – (2003-05-09)9 May 2003
PG 2 Senegal Thiam, Modou Fall (E) 19 – (2005-05-25)25 May 2005
PF 4 Nigeria Adekoya, Jawad 30 – (1994-01-04)4 January 1994
SF 7 Nigeria Kolawole, Michael 27 – (1997-08-07)7 August 1997
SG 10 Nigeria Kareem, Ademola 27 – (1997-10-08)8 October 1997
PF 13 United States Wilson Jr., Anthony 27 – (1997-10-16)16 October 1997
SG 14 Nigeria Ezeh, Victor 21 – (2003-02-12)12 February 2003
PF 15 Nigeria Mohammed, Victor 22 – (2002-04-03)3 April 2002
PF 23 Sierra Leone Conteh, Sita 26 – (1998-08-03)3 August 1998
SG 24 Nigeria Mordi, Jeremiah 31 – (1993-01-07)7 January 1993
F/C 34 United States Monyyong, Ruot 26 – (1998-02-14)14 February 1998
F/C 41 Cameroon Nyemeck, Kevin 23 – (2001-10-07)7 October 2001
F/C 45 Nigeria Akpejiori, Austin 27 – (1997-08-09)9 August 1997
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 25 September 2023

References

  1. ^ "KWARA FALCONS TO MOVE TO THE UNILORIN ARENA TEMPORARILY AS KWARA STATE GOVERNMENT RENOVATES THE INDOOR SPORTS HALL". bballnaija.com. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b ""LOW KEY! ALL OF THEM DON DEY NOTICE" - THE JOURNEY OF THE KWARA FALCONS IN FIREBOY DML`S WORDS". bballnaija.com. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  3. ^ "KWESE PREMIER LEAGUE: Gombe Bulls are new champions, beat Kwara Falcons 81-67". 9 October 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  4. ^ Omoniyi, Oluwaferanmi (13 November 2022). "NBBF Final 8: Kwara Falcons wins first title as High school student emereges MVP". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  5. ^ "BAL 2023 : LES KWARA FALCONS SIGNENT TROIS NOUVEAUX JOUEURS" (in French). 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  6. ^ "What happened at the 2023 Sahara Conference?". The BAL. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  7. ^ Nwoke, Chidi (12 February 2023). "Kwara Falcons Win Louis Edem Men's Invitational Basketball Championship". Voice of Nigeria. Retrieved 2 March 2023.