DAKAR (Senegal) – The next generation of 3x3 basketball talent is ready to take center stage in Dakar. With 24 national teams set to compete at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games from November 6-9, the tournament offers a glimpse of the players who could shape the future of the sport. It also marks a historic occasion: the first Youth Olympic Games to be held on African soil, giving young athletes from across the world an opportunity to make their mark on an international stage.
For some, Dakar could be the beginning of an international basketball journey. For others, it is an opportunity to represent their country and compete for a Youth Olympic medal. With established basketball nations, emerging 3x3 basketball programs and a passionate home crowd in the mix, the tournament promises four days of exciting action.
New generation
The 3x3 basketball tournaments will feature 12 teams in each competition, with four players per squad. The teams are divided into four pools of three, with the top two from each pool advancing to the Quarter-Finals on November 8. The Semi-Finals and medal games follow on November 9 at the Tour de l'Œuf Complex.
Germany lead the boys' seedings, followed by Mongolia, Latvia and Algeria. Lithuania, Singapore, defending champions Argentina, Solomon Islands, Côte d'Ivoire, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and hosts Senegal complete the field.
China headline the girls' seedings, ahead of Chile, Czechia and France. Poland, Ukraine, Mexico, Kenya, Fiji, Chinese Taipei, Egypt and Senegal round out the 12-team competition.
The field brings together a wide range of basketball backgrounds and development pathways. European teams arrive with established youth basketball structures, while several African and Asia-Pacific representatives will be looking to use the tournament as an opportunity to showcase their growing 3x3 basketball programs.
There is also a rich history to draw from. Argentina won the boys' title in Buenos Aires in 2018, while Lithuania claimed gold in Nanjing in 2014 and Serbia triumphed at the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2010. In the girls' competition, the United States won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2018, while China took the first-ever gold in 2010.
Players to Watch
Néné Sira Diallo (Senegal, Women)
Few players will have a more meaningful opportunity than Néné Sira Diallo. The Senegalese forward will represent her country on home soil, with the chance to inspire a new generation of girls in a country where the Youth Olympic Games carry historic significance.
Better known as Sira on the court, Diallo began playing basketball in 2017 at Mermoz Basket Club in Dakar, where she has remained ever since. She captained Senegal's U16 team two years ago, has made her mark in local 3x3 tournaments and earned a call-up to the national U18 team that competed at the 2026 FIBA U18 Women's AfroBasket in Abidjan.
Diallo is also motivated by a bigger purpose. She wants to show young Senegalese girls that they can become champions and leaders on the court. She looks up to Senegalese player Didi Kane and WNBA star Caitlin Clark, drawing inspiration from their games as she prepares for Dakar.
With the home crowd behind her, Diallo will be one of the players to watch as Senegal chase their first Youth Olympic medal in 3x3 basketball.
Anes Hadjoudj (Algeria, Men)
At 6-foot-10, Anes Hadjoudj is an intriguing prospect in a format that often rewards speed, versatility and quick decision-making. The Algerian was among the young players who attended the Dakar preparation camp, joining representatives from Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya and Uganda.
Hadjoudj described the opportunity to compete at the Youth Olympic Games as a historic one, and an opportunity to represent both Algeria and Africa. He also credited the camp with helping him improve his playing tempo and build cohesion with his teammates.
His size will naturally make him an interesting matchup in Dakar, but how he adapts to the pace and demands of 3x3 basketball could be just as important.
Brenda Ochieng (Kenya, Women)
Kenya will be represented by a young squad looking to make the most of their opportunity on the international stage. Brenda Ochieng is one of the players with preparation-camp experience, having joined the Kenyan delegation in Dakar ahead of the Games.
Ochieng highlighted the importance of teamwork, communication, discipline and making quick decisions, which are qualities that are especially important in the fast-paced 3x3 discipline. She also spoke about the pride of representing Africa at a historic edition of the Youth Olympic Games.
Her experience in the preparation camp could prove valuable as Kenya take on a challenging field that includes top-seeded China, Chile and Czechia.
Germany's next generation (Men)
Germany enter the boys' competition as the top seed, making them one of the teams to watch from the outset. Their roster includes Rodney Agyeman (younger brother of Baskets Bonn star Denzel Agyeman), Béla Doleviczenyi, Philip Grothe and Elias Köppen.
The quartet will carry the expectations that come with the top seeding, but the tournament is also an opportunity for these young players to build experience in an international 3x3 basketball setting. With several established nations in the field, Germany will need to translate their seeding into performances on the court.
France's young talent (Women)
France are seeded fourth in the girls' competition and arrive with a tradition of strong Youth Olympic performances. They won silver in Buenos Aires in 2018 and also reached the podium in Nanjing in 2014.
The French squad includes Emmy Breton, Joana Konaté, Alycia Olimpa and Astou Seye. Breton plays for pro side La Roche Vendée Basket, while Konaté represented France at the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket 2025. The quartet will look to add another medal to France's YOG record.
Africa take center stage
Beyond the individual stories, Dakar 2026 represents an important milestone for African 3x3 basketball. Five African nations are represented across the two competitions: Senegal, Algeria and Côte d'Ivoire in the boys' event, and Senegal, Kenya and Egypt in the girls' tournament.
Senegal will be the only country competing in both tournaments, giving the hosts two opportunities to make history in front of their home fans. The country's young players will also have the chance to benefit from the attention and inspiration that comes with hosting the first Olympic sporting event on the African continent.
The preparation camp held in Dakar in October brought together boys' and girls' teams from Senegal, Algeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya and Uganda. It was designed to strengthen the African high-performance pathway and give young players an opportunity to develop their skills, communication and understanding of the 3x3 discipline.
For the African representatives, the tournament is a chance to demonstrate the continent's growing talent and build momentum for the next generation of 3x3 basketball.
Road to Youth Olympic glory
The 3x3 basketball tournaments at Dakar 2026 will run from November 6 to 9 at the Tour de l'Œuf Complex.
Schedule:
🔶 November 6-7: Boys' and girls' pool games
🔶 November 8: Quarter-Finals
🔶 November 9: Semi-Finals and medal games
With established basketball nations, emerging programs and a passionate home crowd all part of the story, Dakar is set to provide a memorable stage for the next generation of 3x3 basketball talent. The medals will be decided over four days, but for many of these young athletes, the experience could be the start of something much bigger.
Stay Connected
Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3x3 Cups tournaments throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official FIBA 3x3 website, where you can find the latest news, star players and everything you need to know. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3x3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.
Want to learn more about 3x3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3x3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3x3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.
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