Manave re-elected as FIBA Africa President

 

MAPUTO (Mozambique) - The 18th FIBA Africa General Assembly came to a close on Saturday in Maputo with Anibal Manave re-elected as FIBA Africa President. 

Among the senior officials attending the General Assembly were FIBA President, Hamane Niang, FIBA Secretary General, Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Africa President, Anibal Manave, FIBA Africa Executive Director, Alphonse Bile, Basketball Africa League (BAL), President, Amadou Gallo Fall, NBA Africa CEO, Victor Williams, FIBA First Vice-President Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani and FIBA Treasurer Ingo Weiss.

The two-day session established a number of goals for the next four-year term (2023-2027).

Besides Manave's re-election the event discussed and recommended new measures to improve national federations' activities,  and it reminded the BAL impact in the African basketball landscape. 

It also looked at ways to strength women's and 3x3 basketball on the continent and looked at avenues to make African basketball a force to be reckoned with globally.  

In his post-election speech, Manave welcomed the trusted he received from FIBA officials: "It is a privilege and honour to be reelected. We have many challenges and opportunities, and I believe that the work with the National Federations and with the board will continue to develop basketball in our region. We had positive results, which we achieved in difficult conditions, and we still have the challenges we had in the past term."

Andreas Zagklis

Addressing the 18th FIBA Africa General Assembly, Andreas Zagklis, congratulated said: "You have been represented at the very top level of FIBA by a man that I use to call a basketball gentleman. He had a lot of problems with the world pandemic and crisis. I will say more in Manilla, but I would like to express my personal gratitude and recognition in front of you to M. Hamane Niang, President of FIBA."

FIBA Africa Executive Director, Alphonse Bile said: "I am really pleased with the participation and commitment of National Federations in this 18th FIBA Africa General Assembly."

Alphonse Bile

The General Assembly paid tribute to two influential contributors to African basketball: Dr Aboubacar Gueye who passed away last month at the age of 80, and former Benin Basketball Federation chairwoman Celestine Adjanahou who retired as FIBA Africa Board member.

Dr. Gueye has been honoured as a FIBA Africa posthumously member. 

In addition to Manave, who was re-elected unopposed as FIBA Africa President for the next four years, Fode Amara Conde was also re-elected as Head of Competition and Technical Council  (2023-2027).

Four FIBA Africa Board members were re-elected for the next four years, namely: Omar Barshushi (Zone 1), Samuel Ahmedu (Zone 3), Hesham El Hariri (Zone 5), Paulo Madeira (Zone 6) and Abel Ntsay (Zone 7). Eric Aime Niat is  Zone 4's new president while the election of Zone 2 is yet to be certified.

Joy Olinga (Uganda) has now joined two other women (Salma Ben Romdhane and Boineelo Hardy) as FIBA Africa Board member.

"If we are united and have a spirit of solidarity we can get stronger and better," Manave pointed.

The Mozambican native admitted that his next four years will be challenging, but he vowed to do everything in his power to make his second term a success.

During the two-day event FIBA Africa held the draws for its next major continental competitions: the 2023 FIBA Women's AfroBasket to be held in Rwanda (28 July to August 6) and the 2023 FIBA AfroCan to take place in Angola from July 8-16.

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