KIGALI (Rwanda) – From September 2 to 14, twelve national teams from across the continent will compete in the 2025 FIBA U16 AfroBasket in Rwanda’s capital city.
At the Petit Stade in Kigali, the next generation of African basketball stars will compete for glory and a spot on the global stage.
In 2023, Guinea pulled off one of the biggest surprises in the tournament's history in Monastir. They eliminated Angola in the semifinals and stunned Egypt in the final to win their first U16 AfroBasket title. Now, all eyes turn to Kigali to see if they can repeat the feat.
Egypt, with their legacy of dominance, returns determined to reclaim their trophy.
Mali, the 2017 champions and consistent contenders, are also ready to compete for the top prize. The road to the final is crowded with challengers, and the drama has only just begun.
Where to watch ?
Fans around the world will be able to follow every moment of the action. All games from the 2025 FIBA U16 AfroBasket will be streamed live on the official FIBA YouTube channel, giving everyone a front-row seat to Kigali’s showcase.
What is at stake ?
The AfroBasket crown is a prize, but the stakes go even higher. The two finalists will automatically qualify for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2026 in Turkey from June 27 to July 5.
For the young athletes competing in Kigali, the tournament is about more than just pride and medals; it's also an opportunity to compete against the best in Africa.
So far, only four African nations have reached the U17 world stage. Egypt is the undisputed leader with seven consecutive appearances since 2010. Mali follows with three qualifications: in 2016, 2018, and 2022.
Angola has qualified once, in 2014, and Guinea made their world appearance debut in 2024. Kigali will decide who joins that select group in 2026.
Reigning U16 AfroBasket Champions
In 2023, a new champion emerged in Monastir as Guinea defeated the heavily favored Egypt team 84-76 in an exciting final.
This victory marked Guinea’s first title at this level, signaling their arrival among the continent’s elite. Mali finished third after a hard-fought win over Angola in the classification game.
However, the spotlight belonged to Guinea, whose fearless run captured the imagination of African basketball fans.
Host city and venue
For the first time, Kigali has the honor of staging the U16 AfroBasket. Rwanda’s capital, known for its growing reputation as a sporting hub, is set to welcome twelve national teams eager to make their mark.
The games will unfold at the Petit Stade Gymnasium in Kigali.
Participating teams
This year’s field includes Angola, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Morocco, Rwanda as the host nation, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, and Uganda. Each side will come to Kigali with different ambitions, but all will carry the same desire to leave their mark on Africa’s premier youth tournament.
Newcomers
Two countries will be making their debut on the U16 AfroBasket stage.
Sierra Leone qualified by defeating Mauritania twice in the FIBA Africa Zone 2 Qualifiers, with Abdulrahman Sesay leading the way. His dominant performance included 16 points in the opener and a stunning display of 14 points, 25 rebounds, and 4 assists in the return leg.
Liberia also secured a historic first appearance, coming through the Zone 3 Qualifiers with back-to-back wins over Benin. Though they finished second to Côte d’Ivoire, their journey was enough to punch their ticket to Kigali.
Returning team
Morocco make their long-awaited comeback to the U16 AfroBasket after ten years when Mali hosted the competition in 2015. The North Africans now return with renewed ambition and the hope of writing a new chapter in their youth basketball story.
Most title wins
Egypt remain the most decorated team in the history of the competition with five titles won in 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2021. Yet their path has never been uncontested.
Every time they pushed for a three-peat, another nation rose to stop them. Angola spoiled the party in 2013 with their lone title in Madagascar; Mali ended Egypt’s streak in 2017, and Guinea shocked them in 2023.
Most MVPs
The Pharaohs also lead when it comes to individual brilliance. Six Egyptian players have been named tournament MVP since 2009. Ahmed Mostafa claimed the first, followed by Ehab Amin (2011), Mohamed Abdelrahman (2013), Ahmed Khalaf (2015), Moamen Abouzeid (2019), and most recently Adam El Halawany in 2021. This string of award-winning talent underlines why Egypt continue to set the standard in African youth basketball.
FIBA