ABIDAN (Côte d'Ivoire) - Following the late withdrawal of Team Liberia from the FIBA Africa Zone Three U18 Women's Qualifiers, hosts Burkina Faso and Benin will compete for the only available ticket to the Final Round in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from 3 to 16 August 2026.
To secure the ticket, both teams must demonstrate their superiority, and Burkina Faso is determined not to miss this opportunity.
With Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire eliminated at the Zonal Qualifiers, this is a valuable chance for Burkina Faso to make their debut in the Final Round.
Conversely, Benin will be aiming to prevail and return to the Final Round, having last competed in 2006 and 2008, where they finished 4th and 8th respectively. For Burkina Faso's coach, Eric Moyenga, the challenge will be significant.
She is determined to see her team through this acid test, but she already has one clear mission: to secure qualification for the final stages of the competition.
She does not see Benin stopping her from achieving her goal, but she will not underestimate them.
She believes that, after weeks of rigorous preparation with young women who are determined to make a career out of basketball, they are well aware of the task ahead.
Despite being guests of the hosts, Benin looks undeterred, and Coach Jean M'po is ready to put up a fight in the double-elimination series.
Whichever team eventually secures a place in the final round will join Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire, and the top two teams will qualify directly for the FIBA Under-19 Women's World Cup.
FIBA