ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - In approximately four weeks time, Cairo will be the centre stage of the newly-created FIBA Africa Women's Basketball League (AWBL) with 12 of the continent's best clubs gathering for the inaugural AWBL season.

But what do we know and how did the AWBL come to be? 

Formerly known as FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women, the competition was seen as the continent's prime basketball competition for women's basketball club. 

However, there was something missing. Some upgrade, rebranding and more exposure? FIBA Africa seems to have pondered.

When FIBA Africa Central Board convened in December of 2022 in the Mozambican capital of Maputo, the governing body reviewed past activities and approved a number of new projects involving the game of basketball on the continent, but there was also a consensus that the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women needed a new identity, and so, the AWBL, which was one of the hottest topics of discussions in Maputo, came to existence.

Sporting Alexandria lifted the last title of the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women in December 2022

FIBA Africa informed that AWBL will see the introduction of new eligibility rules. The roster must consist of at least 8 National players and 4 foreign players, including 2 plying their trade in any African league and 2 from outside of Africa.

From December 11-19, Cairo will host 12 AWBL teams from corners of the continent with aim of crowning a new champions, but, more importantly, a chance to write a narrative of women's basketball on the continent.

As we write eight teams have ensured their places in the 2023 AWBL while five others are expected to face regional qualifiers for the eagerly-anticipated tournament.

Sporting Alexandria, who won the 2022 edition of the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women in Maputo and Al Ahly Sporting Club will carry Egypt's flag throughout the AWBL.

Other teams qualified so far include Kenya's Kenya Ports Authority, who clinched FIBA Africa Zone Five Qualifier over the weekend in Kigali, and Rwanda Energy Group who finished second; Overdose Up Station and fellow Cameroonians Universite Douala have also secured their flights to the Egyptian capital.

Angolan sides Primeiro de Agosto and Inter Clube have qualified for the tournament without playing their FIBA Africa Zone Six qualifier as Costa do Sol (Mozambique), UNAM Phoenix (Namibia), and UZ Sparks (Zimbabwe), failed to attend the qualifier in the Angolan capital Luanda "due to some logistical reasons." Therefore, a FIBA Africa document stated, Primeiro de Agosto and Inter Clube were "qualified for the Final Round." 

More details such as the 2023 AWBL draw will be announced soon. 

FIBA