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Baseball · History

History of Baseball in Nigeria

How a game brought by the Peace Corps was lost to war, revived in 1989 and grew into a national league with Olympic ambitions, told in our own words.

A batter swinging at a pitch

The story

From the Peace Corps to the All Africa Games

Baseball was introduced in Nigeria in the early 1960s by the American Peace Corps but also ended when a civil war broke out in 1967 and the American Peace Corps that brought the game to the country was forcefully asked to leave Nigeria.

The baseball was later re-introduced in 1989 when a group of Nigerians gathered together to form the sports federation called the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association (NBSA).

Since 1989, the association has arranged many competitions ranging in 3 main age categories in both baseball and softball enjoying strong participation from teams in different cities of the federation. The age categories are under- 12 years, under- 16 years and also senior players above the age of 16 years.

The governing body since after its foundation has been working with some local and international organizations such as World Little League, International Baseball Federation and International Softball Federation (now merged as WBSC) among others to see that baseball and softball are still functional within the country.

Through the efforts of the African Baseball and Softball association, Minna, Nigeria; baseball or softball were received by the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa which made them become the medal sports at the continental level.

In the year 1999 and 2003; Nigeria emerged as runner-up in the All Africa Games (AAG) and won silver medals and this made Nigeria emerge as 2nd overall after South Africa in the whole Africa.

Baseball and softball have been in most National Sports Festivals which is known as the most popular national games that are being sponsored by the government such as Edo in 2002, Abuja in 2004, and Gateway in 2006, and KADA in 2009.

Baseball and softball are now played in most of the states like FCT, Niger, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Plateau, Imo, Akwa Ibom and many others. Angels Youth Baseball Factory which serves as a baseball club in Nigeria was formed by Adeyinka Adewusi later with the aim of promoting and developing the sports from grassroots.

A baseball batter in red

Verified timeline · checked 29 September 2026

Nigerian baseball timeline

  1. Early 1960sAmerican Peace Corps volunteers introduce baseball to Nigeria.
  2. 1967The Nigerian Civil War halts the game as the Peace Corps leaves.
  3. 1989Nigerians revive the sport and form the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association.
  4. 1992Nigeria finishes 3rd at the African Baseball Championship in Harare.
  5. 1999Nigeria wins silver at the All Africa Games in Johannesburg, losing the final only to South Africa.
  6. 2003A second All Africa Games silver, at home in Abuja.
  7. 2009Lagos-born Wande Olabisi becomes the first Nigerian-born player drafted into MLB.
  8. 2016MLB runs a trial and clinic for 30 players at Igbobi College, Lagos.
  9. 2023Lagos hosts the first West Africa Little League Tournament.
  10. 2024Uche Odozor is elected federation president.
  11. 2025Odozor becomes WBSC Africa president; baseball and softball join the Nigeria University Games.
  12. 2026Japanese coach Shinya Tomonari takes charge of the national team with LA 2028 in view.

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Quick answers

History of Nigerian baseball: quick answers

Who introduced baseball to Nigeria?

American Peace Corps volunteers in the early 1960s. The game stopped when the civil war broke out in 1967 and was revived in 1989 with the founding of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association.

When was the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association founded?

In 1989, by Nigerian enthusiasts of the game. It is now known as the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation and is a member of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).

When did Nigeria host its first international youth baseball event?

In April 2023, when Lagos hosted the first West Africa Little League Tournament, with teams from Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.