ANTANANARIVO (Madasgascar) - In about four weeks from now, it will be all action in the FIBA U18 Women African Championship in Madagascar.

This tournament which holds biennially will see the top two African teams qualify directly for the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup.

Twelve teams from the seven Zones of Africa are expected to compete. The reigning champions Egypt will attempt to make another win for the third time.

There will be two venues for the matches, one if which is the Palais des Sports Mahamasina. It is the best sporting arena in Antananarivo.

Aside from being the venue for not just sporting events, it is where major events are organized because of its facilities and the ambiance it exudes.

Malagasy fans are known as some of the most passionate and enthusiasts across Africa especially when it concerns basketball.

There hasn't been a continental championship held in Madagascar that local fans disappointed. They cheer, they sing, and more importantly, they respect the game.

There have been 15 editions with Madagascar hosting the 16th edition. A total of nine countries have shared 42 medals (14 gold, 15, Silver and 13 bronze medals. Mali remains the only country that has won the title a record 7 times.

Only 20 countries out of the 54 member nations of FIBA Africa have participated in the championship.

There have also been great MVP Award Winners - Teresa Gonçalves (Angola), Fanta Toure (Mali), Laoudy Maiga (Mali), Reem Osama (Egypt), Yacine Diop (Senegal), Djeneba N'Diaye (Mali), Meral Abdelgawad (Egypt), Aissatou Sissoko (Mali) and Yara Hussein (Egypt),

Senegal, Egypt, Mali, Madagascar, Uganda and Angola are the qualified teams so far. Other qualified teams would be announced before the start of the championship.

In 2020, Yara Hussein was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, headlining the All-Star Five which also featured teammate Hager Yassine (Egypt), Diouma Berthe (Mali), Diarrah Sissoko (Mali) and Khadija Faye (Senegal).

Hosts Egypt won their second FIBA U18 Women's African Championship title after stunning reigning champions Mali 68-63 at the Cairo Stadium. 

Hager Yassine scored a team-high 27 points and picked four rebounds to inspire the North Africans to victory in a highly contested game that handed the Malians their first loss since the 2012 Final to Senegal. 

Egypt, who won their first title at this competition in 2010 also hosted in Cairo, will be remembered for putting up a spirited fight that saw them enter the Final with a 1-3 win ratio having lost to Mali twice and once to Senegal in the Group Phase. 

FIBA