The Toronto native is set to suit up with the SMNT at the Americas Cup
Ibrahim Odza always had his sights set on the Senior Men’s National Team. As he prepares to represent Canada at the 2025 IWBF Americas Cup, the 16-year-old admits even he’s surprised by how quickly his game has progressed.
At the age of eight, Odza was diagnosed with a cavernoma—a benign tumour on his spine. However, in September 2020, while on a family trip to Macedonia, the Toronto native began experiencing back pain.
An MRI revealed the cavernoma had ruptured. Emergency surgery saved his life, but Odza lost the ability to walk.
He returned to Toronto in June 2021 and spent the next six months undergoing rehabilitation at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. It was there that Odza was introduced to wheelchair basketball—and to coach Steve Bialowas at Variety Village.
“I got involved in wheelchair basketball through Variety Village and ONPARA,” Odza recalled. “I was at Holland Bloorview, and I got a sport chair while I was there, and they told me to go try Variety Village.
“I tried wheelchair tennis for a couple of weeks. My dad encouraged me to try out many different sports. I played table tennis in a wheelchair a bit, but I liked basketball the most when I tried it, so I stopped playing the other two and focused more on basketball.”
An avid soccer player before his surgery, Odza found a natural connection to wheelchair basketball and it’s team environment.
“I feel like team sports are more motivating to me; it’s better playing in a team environment,” he said. “With wheelchair basketball, I just wanted to try a sport that I would enjoy. I always wanted to be a professional athlete, no matter what sport, so with wheelchair basketball, I’ve found that sport now.”
Odza got his first taste of high-level competition in February 2023, representing Team Ontario at the Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
He averaged 12.8 points per game as Ontario placed seventh in the tournament.
“I was probably playing for 8-9 months at that point,” said Odza. “That was one of my first 5-on-5 tournaments, so just playing as a team, having fun. I had a couple of good games. It was a fun tournament overall.”
This season has been a whirlwind one for Odza.
In April, he played a key role in helping Canada’s U23 men’s team punch its ticket to the U23 World Championship, edging Brazil 55-54 at the IWBF Men’s U23 Americas Championship in Bogotá, Colombia.
“That was my first big tournament representing Canada,” said Odza. “It was a cool tournament, a good experience. I felt we improved as a team as the tournament went on. It was a fun tournament.”
At the 2025 National Championships in Oshawa, Ont., Odza helped lead host province Team Ontario to a gold medal victory over Alberta.
His performance earned him tournament all-star honours.
“It was good to win against a team that had some very high-level players with National Team players Nik Goncin and Reed De’Aeth,” Odza said. “They had an amazing team, but we managed to get guys on them.”
In June, Odza represented Canada at the IWBF Men’s U23 World Championship in São Paulo, Brazil, where he led the team with 18.4 points and 6.3 assists per game.
“That was a fun tournament. I felt we could’ve performed better,” said Odza. “I think we had the capabilities to be better. A couple of close games we could’ve won.”
In July, Odza officially earned a spot on Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team for the upcoming IWBF Americas Cup in Bogotá – the qualifier for the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships.
At just 16 years old, he’s the youngest athlete on the roster and one of six first-time selections by Head Coach Matteo Feriani.
“That was the goal to make the Senior Men’s National Team as quick as possible,” Odza explained. “I feel like I’ve achieved that. The goal was always to make the National Team and compete at the highest level in wheelchair basketball.
“I thought I could get here, but I don’t think I would’ve done it this young.”
Odza has already gained Senior National Team experience, suiting up for Canada in a series of exhibition games against Great Britain and Brazil in July.
“Seeing the talent in Great Britain and Brazil – those guys are quick, everybody is fast,” he said. It’s so much faster, everybody is quicker. Nobody is slow. Everybody is good. Doesn’t matter who is shooting, everything looks like it’s going to go in.”
Along with the busy season on the court, the awards and accolades are piling up for Odza off the court.
In July, he was named Variety Village’s Wheelchair Basketball Athlete of the Year. He received the Matt Maltese Award from ParaSport Ontario – an honour presented to athletes who exemplify determination and resilience in overcoming adversity.
In April, Odza was named Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s Junior Athlete of the Year, following a 2024 season where he led Team Ontario 2 to a Junior East Championship, earned Division 1 MVP honours, and impressed at the 2024 Kitakyushu Champions Cup.
“I feel like it’s a big honour to achieve those awards – it’s a huge thing for me,” he said. “I’m not too big on awards, but I appreciate the acknowledgement. I put a lot of hard work into my game over the past 2-3 years, so I appreciate those organizations for giving me those awards.”
Off the court, Odza will begin Grade 11 in September. While he’s still exploring future career paths, he has multiple opportunities to continue advancing his wheelchair basketball journey.
“I’ve had a couple of offers to go play professionally, a couple of offers to go play at university, so we’ll see when the time comes,” Odza explained.
“My mom wants me to go to university. My dad doesn’t mind either way; he wants me to pick the route that’s better for my career. We’ll see when the time comes. I’ve still got time to make some decisions.”