Africa - A round of the week's events (Feb 25 - March 4, 2024)

 

ABIDJAN (Cote d’Ivoire) - We bring you, in this weekly review the trending news from around the basketball scene.

AFROBASKET QUALIFIERS WINDOW 1 PRODUCES UPSETS 

An exciting three days of action saw 12 of the 20 teams vying for a place in the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket lock horns in Cairo (Egypt) and Monastir (Tunisia).

Group D underdogs Madagascar made history, picking their first-ever AfroBasket Qualifiers win as they beat former African champions Central Africa Republic (CAF), a side that finished 13th in 2021.

In Monastir, unranked Libya were on a run of their own as they completed the window with a 2-1 record thanks to wins over Nigeria in overtime, and Uganda, losing to Cape Verde, fourth in the  2021 showpiece, narrowly. 

BAL SEASON 4 IS HERE!

The wait is over! The quest for Africa’s most coveted men's basketball crown starts on March 9 as 8 teams look to make the knock-out stages of season 4 of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

The first of three Conferences, the newly-introduced Kalahari event, is set for from March 9 to March 17 at the SunBet Arena, Pretoria. It involves hosts Cape Town Tigers, FUS Rabat, Petro de Luanda, and Dynamo BBC. Nile and Sahara Conferences are set for April and May respectively. 

 

WILLY ASSEKO APPOINTED VICE-PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF FIBA AFRICA

Willy Asseko, president of the Gabonese Basketball Federation is now the vice-president of the FIBA Africa Development Commission.

His main objective as he assumes the role is to plan the development of basketball by distributing equipment, organizing training, while supporting the national federations to achieve their development targets.

PATRIOTS REST MUGABE'S JERSEY 88

Rwandese top-tier side Patriots BBC have retired Aristide Mugabe’s number 88 jersey in tribute to the legend who spent seven years leading the team.

He won 5 titles with the side and was part of the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL) squad that made the semis. The point guard has since left the side for rivals Kepler.

AL AHLY SIGN THREE AHEAD OF BAL SEASON 4

Egyptian giants heading for the 2024 BAL, Al Ahly have pounced on the signature of talented 24-year-old Patrick Gardner who impressed for the national team during the first window of the FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers held in Cairo.

Playing in the competition, and in Africa, for the first item (having made his international debut during the World Cup for Egypt), Gardner was one of the country’s go-to players in a 2-1 performance to place second in Group D.

He is joined by Tony Mitchell Jr and Prince Adams Ali as the newest additions ahead of the 18 April commencement date for the Nile Conference.

EVELYNE KEDOGO NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR IN KENYA

Renowned coach and 3x3 African championship-winning coach Evelyne Kedogo was on the weekend named Kenya’s best coach of 2023 during the prestigious annual Sports Personality of the Year (SOYA) Awards.

MINI-BASKETBALL FORUM TO BE HELD THIS MONTH IN MADAGASCAR

Delegates from every regional branch of the Malagasy Basketball Federation are set to meet on March 25-26 in Antananarivo for the mini-basket forum. This annual meeting aims to discuss and establish the guidelines for basketball at grassroots and at giving youth coaches tools to train youngsters aged 12 and under.

YUNSS AKINOCHO APPOINTED BENIN'S TEAM MANAGER

36-year-old Yunss Prince Michel Akinocho has been appointed team manager for all Benin national teams. The Moroccan-French former basketball player’s primary mission is to help the FBBB improve the organization and management of national teams.

MAURITIUS SUPER LEAGUE TOP-OFF MOVED FORWARD

Initially scheduled for mid-March, the Super League will finally kick off towards the end of March, according to Hedley Han, chairman of the Mauritius Basketball Federation (FMBB). However, before players can get back into action, they will have to pass fitness tests, as has been the case since the previous season. 

FIBA