ABIDJA (Cote d'Ivoire) - Based on the preliminary rosters that the national federations submitted to FIBA ten days before the start of Window 4 of the 2027 World Cup African Qualifiers, we have selected ten players who could light up the stages in Dakar, Senegal, and Rades, Tunisia.
Here is our selection of players to watch.
Omar Abada - Tunisia
POINT GUARD
Date of birth: April 20, 1993 Height: 1.89 m / 6'2" Team: Club African (TUN)
Since making his debut with the Tunisian senior team at the 2015 AfroBasket tournament in Tunisia, Omar Abada has quickly established himself as the team's primary point guard. Abada not only helped Tunisia win two AfroBasket titles (in 2017 and 2021), he also became the heart and soul of the team.
In the current African Qualifiers campaign, Abada has done it all for the three-time African champions, averaging team highs of 18.5 points, 6.5 assists, and an efficiency rating of 20.5 per game.
Tunisia are heading into the fourth window of the qualifiers with a 4–2 record, much of which is attributed to the skilful playmaker's tenacity.
Shannon Evans - Guinea
GUARD
Date of birth: July 19, 1994 Height: 1.80 m / 5'10" Team: Promitheas Patras B.C. (GRE)
Undeniably, Shannon Evans has played a significant role in Guinea's progress, not only in the 2027 World Cup African qualifiers but also over the last five years. During this time, the West Africans have transitioned from outsiders to realistic contenders for one of the five spots available to African teams in the 2027 Qatar World Cup.
With Evans on the floor, Guinea (4-2) poses a constant threat to any opponent, regardless of their status.
Evans and his playmaking partner, Souleymane Boum Jr., have become the most exciting guard duo in the current qualifiers due to their unique ability to score and make plays. They are the two leading scorers in Guinea, averaging 18 points per game combined.
Assem Marei - Egypt
POWER FORWARD
Date of birth: June 16, 1992 Height: 2.06 m / 6'9" Team: Changwon LG Sakers (KOR)
Marei may not be the flashiest player, but his skill set in the post and exceptional rebounding ability make him one of Egypt's most reliable players.
Along with Anas Mahmoud, Marei is one of the most senior members of the current Egyptian team and emerges as a leader on and off the court.
In the current African Qualifiers campaign, he averaged 8 points and 9.4 rebounds in five games.
Wenyen Gabriel - South Sudan
POWER FORWARD
Date of birth: March 26, 1997 Height: 2.08 m / 6'10" Team: Beşiktaş (TUR)
The former Los Angeles Laker has yet to play in the 2027 African qualifiers and could be a huge addition to the South Sudanese Bright Stars, who are in desperate need of leadership and a dominant physical presence in the paint.
Assemian Moulare - Côte d'Ivoire
POINT GUARD
Date of birth: January 21, 2003 Height: 1.87 m / 6'1" Team: JL Bourg en Bresse (FRA)
Aged just 23, Assemian Moulare has secured his place in the Ivorian rotation, thanks to his ability to run plays and attack the basket at pace.
He played a pivotal role in the Ivorian team's 5–1 win–loss record, thanks to his team-highs of 16 points, six assists, and an efficiency rating of 18.7 per game.
Josh Okogie - Nigeria
GUARD
Date of birth: September 1, 1998 Height: 1.93 m / 6'3" Team: Houston Rockets (USA)
Okogie, who led Nigeria to fifth place at last year's AfroBasket, is reportedly set to make his African Qualifiers debut in the second round in Tunisia.
His arrival adds depth and scoring potential to the D'Tigers, who have selected a relatively small line-up to build on their 4–2 record.
Okogie can do it all: make plays, score and lead his team vocally on defence. He is a massive addition to Nigeria.
Brancou Badio - Senegal
GUARD
Date of birth: February 17, 1999 Height: 1.90 m / 6'3" Team: Panathinaikos (GRE)
Brancou Badio has had such a positive impact on Senegal's current campaign that they have won all five games with him on the court.
After missing Senegal's 90-80 loss to Côte d'Ivoire, he returned to propel his team to new heights, establishing them as one of the strongest candidates to secure one of Africa's five tickets to the 2027 World Cup.
Badio was named MVP of the first round of the African qualifiers. He leads Senegal in points (20.2), efficiency (23.8), assists (5.6), and rebounds (7.0) per game.
Childe Dundao - Angola
GUARD
Date of birth: May 17, 1998 Height: 1.73 m / 5'7" Team: FC Porto (POR)
Unmistakable thanks to his short stature, Childe Dundao has recently become a giant for Angola, leading the southern country to their 12th AfroBasket title and earning MVP honours in the process.
Dundao is undoubtedly the heart and soul of the Angolan team, as his statistics demonstrate.
In Angola's first six games of the current campaign, he averaged team highs of 17.8 points, 7.8 assists and 3.8 steals per game, as well as an efficiency rating of 18.0.
Having inspired his Angolan club, Petro de Luanda, to domestic success and victory in the Basketball Africa League, Dundao is set to make his European basketball debut with Portuguese side FC Porto.
Yves Missi - Cameroon
CENTER
Date of birth: May 14, 2004 Height: 2.11 m / 6'10" Team: New Orleans Pelicans (USA)
Yves Missi is set to make his African Qualifiers debut after inspiring Cameroon to a fourth-place finish at the 2025 AfroBasket. He averaged 13.2 points per game and recorded team highs of 7.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and 17.7 efficiency.
Siriman Kanoute - Mali
POINT GUARD
Date of birth: September 24, 2001 Height: 1.76 m / 5'9" Team: Orleans Loiret Basket (FRA)
Siriman Kanoute had a terrific first-round campaign. He averaged team highs of 19.2 points, 9.2 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, as well as an efficiency rating of 22. He had his most memorable game when he set a tournament record with 15 assists in Mali's 80-79 win over Angola in the first round of Group D in Alexandria, Egypt.
DISCLAIMER: The players featured in this article were included on the preliminary rosters released by their respective National Member Federations. However, the final 12-player rosters for each team competing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers Window 4 will be confirmed following the Technical Meetings held one day before the start of the fourth window of the African Qualifiers.
FIBA