Abuja, Nigeria – Khamila Sani Ibrahim’s early life in Kano State, northern Nigeria, was marked by limited opportunities for girls to participate in organized sports, a situation that fostered a sense of exclusion. Growing up, she had to navigate around family expectations, and seeing girls on the basketball court was uncommon. When visiting her grandparents during school holidays, she faced the challenge of finding ways to integrate basketball into her family’s routines. ‘It is very hard for me to train in basketball,’ Ibrahim stated, ‘I only go out to play when they are not around, or I tell them that I’m going to visit my friends, and from there I go to the court.’
Across northern Nigerian communities, sports such as basketball and football have historically been viewed as male-dominated spaces. For girls who wanted to play, the obstacles can include limited access to courts and equipment, a shortage of coaching and funding, and fewer chances to compete. However, now, through Grassroots To Greatness (G2G), an initiative dedicated to female empowerment in sports, girls are finding opportunities to train, compete, and develop their skills. G2G was founded after witnessing the limited opportunities available to girls in the region. Jawatir Bello, a youth sports advocate, spearheaded the initiative, recognizing the need to address this disparity.
The initiative’s focus is on providing jerseys, custom hijabs, basketballs, and even financial stipends for all teams, regardless of the winner or loser. At tournaments, players wear custom hijabs, long sports vests, and athletic tights, showcasing a deliberate effort to participate in sports without doing anything that goes against their cultural values or their identity as Muslims. Bello emphasized that modesty is key, and the goal is to ensure that girls are seen as modest, decent, and fully covered.
Despite the challenges, she anticipates resistance from some communities when launching female-only tournaments and community training sessions. Bello states, ‘Our core value is about participating in sports without doing anything that goes against our cultural values or our identity as Muslims.’
To mobilize participants, G2G partners directly with local grassroots coaches who already run community teams on the ground. When Ibrahim represented Kano State in a multi-state G2G tournament featuring female players from up to nine different states, she found herself in an environment unlike the male-dominated local teams she had previously played with, where girls were often underestimated. ‘What G2G did for us was incredible,’ Ibrahim said. ‘They provided jerseys, custom hijabs, basketballs, cover for our transport and even financial stipends for all the teams, regardless of who won or lost. It made us feel seen and valued.’
Fatima Diouf, another young player based in Abuja, started playing basketball at her school when she was 11. She joined the G2G programme to test her skills against tougher competition. Although her team fell short of the finals, she left with lessons she says will stay with her. ‘I have learned a lot beyond just basketball. I learned teamwork, confidence, discipline, and how to keep improving,’ Fatima told Al Jazeera.
For Ibrahim, getting time on the court is still not always easy. She has had to push past self-doubt and the dismissive attitude of male peers who assumed girls could not compete at the same level. She also struggles to balance intense training with domestic chores and schoolwork. Mansur Abdullahi, assistant coach of Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national football team, the Falconets, says grassroots coaches and organizations can help create opportunities for young athletes that larger sports structures may not reach. ‘Official sports bodies have big structures, but local groups provide the actual trust and cultural understanding,’ he said.
For many participants, the tournaments are a chance to test themselves against new opponents and think about what could come next. Before joining G2G, Ibrahim’s father had reservations about whether competitive sports would compromise family standards. But once he attended her games and saw the athletic wear and the structured environment of the initiative, he became one of her biggest supporters. ‘I want to secure a college sports scholarship in the United States and eventually turn professional. More than that, I want other Muslim girls across northern Nigeria to see that sports build your health, strength, and confidence, and that nothing should hold you back from chasing your dreams,’ Ibrahim told Al Jazeera.
Seeing the network of coaches, stakeholders, and organisers at the tournament also broadened Diouf’s perspective and allowed her to imagine playing across Africa. G2G, the initiative, is aiming beyond just organizing female-only tournaments. Bello wants the programme to show girls there is a place for them in sport and that they can compete without feeling that they have to give up who they are. ‘You can keep your identity, stay covered, and still achieve something in life,’ Bello said.”
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Source: Al Jazeera Africa
