ABIDJAN (Cote d'ivoire) - As part of the FIBA Regional Office of Africa’s Development Programme, which aims to support all 54 national federations, the balls were symbolically distributed during half-time of the 2026 U18 FIBA AfroBasket quarter-final between Côte d'Ivoire and Egypt on Thursday, 13 August in Abidjan.
To reduce barriers to participation and make basketball more accessible, each national federation receives an annual allocation of 300 basketballs: 100 size 5s, 100 size 6s and 100 size 7s.
This equipment is intended for use at a local level within clubs, academies, and federation programmes, as well as in all initiatives that contribute to the development and democratisation of basketball.
The U18 AfroBasket in Abidjan provided another opportunity to achieve this. All participating delegations were therefore able to receive their annual allocation.
In addition, all participating teams received an extra 50 basketballs: 25 size 6s and 25 size 7s.
Because development begins with the young people who bring our sport to life, every player taking part in the competition received a basketball of their own.
But these basketballs are more than just essential equipment for playing the game.
They carry a powerful symbol that FIBA Africa wants to share with everyone in the basketball community: the lotus flower, which symbolises perseverance and resilience.
The lotus is a remarkable flower. It takes root in mud, rises through water, and blooms on the surface despite the obstacles in its path. It reminds us that beauty and success can emerge from difficult circumstances if we keep moving forward.
Therefore, each basketball distributed represents an additional opportunity to play, learn, improve and dream.
FIBA