FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026: Côte d’Ivoire Officially Launches Its First Continental Youth Basketball Tournament
Côte d’Ivoire is set to make history this summer as it prepares to host the FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026 for both boys and girls, scheduled to take place from August 5 to 16, 2026, in Abidjan.
The Ivorian Basketball Federation (FIBB), under the leadership of its President Moussa Diarra, has officially taken on the organization of both continental competitions, marking a major milestone for basketball development in the country.
The tournament will be played at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, which will welcome the continent's best young basketball talents for nearly two weeks of high-level competition.
Twelve Nations Set to Compete in Each Tournament
A total of 12 national teams in both the men's and women's categories will battle for continental glory in Abidjan.
FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026 – Men
The men's tournament will feature: Mali (defending African champions), Cameroon, Senegal, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Nigeria, Tunisia, Gabon, Rwanda, Egypt, and Madagascar.
FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2026 – Women
In the women’s competition, Mali (also the defending African champions) will be joined by Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, the Central African Republic, Benin, Tunisia, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Egypt, and Kenya.
In total, the event will bring together 24 teams, with 12 nations competing in each category. According to the announced format, the teams will be divided into three groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals, leading into a knockout stage that will determine the new U18 African champions.
For Côte d’Ivoire, the stakes are twofold: successfully hosting this inaugural U18 AfroBasket on home soil and giving its young "Elephants" (men’s and women’s teams) the chance to shine before their home crowd. The Treichville Sports Palace is thus set to become the gathering place for the new generation of African basketball for nearly two weeks.