ALEXANDRIA /DAKAR (Egypt/Senegal) - Following the opening window of the 2027 World Cup African qualifiers in November, it is now time for the second window, in which eight other teams will begin their campaigns to secure one of the five World Cup places available to African nations.
From Thursday, 26 February to Sunday, 1 March, Dakar and Alexandria will be the centre of attention for African basketball, with star players from a variety of backgrounds set to shine and help their countries succeed in the Qatar 2027 race.
This article takes a closer look at where the eight teams stand in the four-day event.
Group B
COTE D'IVOIRE, DR CONGO, MADAGASCAR, SENEGAL
TEAMS | FIBA WORLD RANKING, PRESENTED BY NIKE |
|---|---|
Senegal | 51st |
Madagascar | 103rd |
DR Congo | 76st |
Cote d'Ivoire | 39th |
With three of the top 15 African teams in the same group, fans couldn't have asked for more compelling group play.
Here is a breakdown of Group B.
Senegal
Since the introduction of the continental qualifying format in 2019, Senegal, who ended second behind Nigeria that year, put in a strong showing and finished with a 10-2 record in the second round. It led to the Lions of Teranga securing a spot in the 2019 World Cup in China.
In the 2023 African Qualifiers, the Senegalese faced an uphill battle. They finished the first round of those qualifiers with a 3-3 record and progressed to the second round. While Senegal gave a better account of themselves, ending with a positive 7-5 record, a loss (83-75) to South Sudan in their first game of the final window ended their hopes.
Côte d'Ivoire
The Ivorians scraped through the first round of the then-new qualifying format in 2019. A negative 2-4 first-round record was enough to see them squeeze through to the second round. They found their footing in the second round, and a 7-5 record saw Côte d'Ivoire qualify for a second World Cup.
The 2023 qualifiers were a more positive experience for the Elephants, as they went 6-0 in the first round. In the second round, they were just as impressive, securing World Cup qualification with a 7-0 record ahead of the final window in February 2023. Côte d'Ivoire would finish their Group E 8-2.
DR Congo
The Congolese faltered in the first round of the 2019 qualifiers, finishing last (2-4) in Group C. Following the disappointment of the 2019 qualifiers, the central African nation seemed to have turned the corner in the 2023 qualifiers, picking up wins against Senegal and Kenya to finish second behind Egypt in the first round.
The Leopards had very little success in the second round, as they could only win one game against Tunisia, and the Central Africans finished their campaign with a 5-7 record.
Madagascar
The Malagasy are making their debut at the qualifying tournament.
Group B Dark Horse
The Democratic Republic of the Congo have demonstrated that, when their best players take to the court, they are formidable opponents.
They delivered outstanding performances in their 2025 AfroBasket qualifiers, and will be looking to replicate those in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Players such as Rolly Fula, Jordan Sakho and Jonathan Jordan will be looking to give Congo the upper hand in Dakar.
Can Cong DR continue to outplay Senegal?
In the first round of the 2023 African Qualifiers, the Leopards achieved back-to-back first-round group stage wins over Senegal. Going into the second window of the qualifiers, the Congolese will feel they have an edge over the hosts.
Match to look out for
Duels between Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire have always produced fireworks, with the Ivorians leading the head-to-head battle 6-4. The two nations will be locked in battle in the final game of the opening round of games in window two, and the Senegalese will lean on their fans for a good start.
The Venue
The qualifiers will take place at the Marius Ndiaye Gymnasium, which is conveniently located in the city centre of Dakar. The venue previously hosted the 2024 FIBA Women's Basketball League Africa and was the stage of Groups B and D of the 2017 AfroBasket, demonstrating its suitability for major international competitions such as the World Cup Qualifiers. Its central location will draw fans from across the capital.
Tickets
Fans can purchase tickets at the Marius Ndiaye Gymnasium or by checking the social media pages of the Senegalese Basketball Federation.
There will be plenty of thrilling basketball action, as Group B features fierce rivalries, emerging nations eager to make their mark and underdogs capable of upsetting even the strongest favourites.
The favorite: Senegal Key matchup: Senegal vs Côte d'Ivoire The underdog: Madagscar
Players to watch: Brancou Badiou, Jean Jacques Boissy (Senegal), Assemian Moulare, Jean Philippe Dally (Cote d'Ivoire), Jonathan Jordan and Jordan Sakho (DR Congo) and Mathias M'Madi (Madagascar).
Group D
ANGOLA, EGYPT, MALI, UGANDA
TEAMS | FIBA WORLD RANKING, PRESENTED BY NIKE |
|---|---|
Angola | 24th |
Egypt | 44th |
Mali | 67th |
Uganda | 90th |
With plenty of unfinished business in Group D, the six games to be played in Alexandria are not to be missed.
Firstly, there will be a rematch of the 2025 AfroBasket final between Angola and Mali.
Both teams will be fielding most of the players who featured in the sold-out match in Luanda last August.
Another game that is sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats is Angola vs Egypt, with the Pharaohs chasing their first ever win against Angola, who currently hold an 8–0 head-to-head advantage.
The Angola vs. Egypt game will also feature a duel between two Catalan coaches who have made their mark on African basketball: on the Angolan bench will be Pepe Claros, who was once briefly appointed as Egypt's head coach.
Opposing him will be Agustí Julbe, the only coach to have won two Basketball Africa League titles. Julbe achieved these remarkable feats while coaching Egyptian powerhouses Zamalek (2021) and Al Ahly SC (2023).
Another eagerly awaited match will see Egypt take on Mali. When the two teams met at the 2025 AfroBasket tournament, Egypt won the group stage match, although Mali went on to reach the final.
Meanwhile, Uganda will be looking to put their disappointing results of recent years behind them and launch their World Cup campaign.
Tickets
Fans can purchase tickets by checking the social media pages of the Egyptian Basketball Federation.
The favorite: Angola Key matchup: Angola vs Egypt The underdog: Uganda
Players to watch: Ehab Amin (Egypt), reigning AfroBasket MVP Childe Dundao (Angola), Aliou Diarra (Mali).
FIBA