Abuja: The President of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation (NBSF), Uche Odozor, has announced plans to establish Nigeria as the headquarters of baseball and softball in Africa. Odozor made this revelation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), emphasizing the country’s readiness to lead the development of these sports across the continent.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Odozor, who also serves as the President of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) Africa, highlighted that this new role for Nigeria presents a significant opportunity to promote baseball, softball, and Baseball5. He described Africa as an emerging hub for baseball, noting that the continent has become a key source of talent for Major League Baseball (MLB).

Odozor pointed out that Africa is a crucial ground for developing MLB players, with athletes who are recognized for their quality, resilience, and speed. However, he also mentioned that the lack of proper leadership has been a barrier to the full development of the sport in Africa.

He cited examples of top baseball earners like Shohei Ohtani and another player from the New York Giants, illustrating the lucrative potential of the sport. Odozor argued that regions like Arabia and Asia are heavily investing in baseball and expressed confidence in Africa’s potential to build a strong economy around the sport.

Nigeria’s leadership role in WBSC Africa, according to Odozor, includes developing Baseball5, an accessible version of the sport that can be played anywhere. He identified top facilities like the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja and the Ilorin Baseball Facility in Kwara as world-class centers that could support this mission.

Odozor expressed gratitude to key national leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, for their support in securing Nigeria’s leadership position. He announced that the federation’s next major initiative is introducing baseball and softball at the 27th Nigeria University Games (NUGA), scheduled for November at the University of Jos, Plateau.

NAN reports that Odozor became the president of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) Africa Congress, held in Bangkok, Thailand.