The countdown has officially begun. From August 5 to 16, 2026, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, will host the FIBA Africa U18 Championships for both men and women at the Palais des Sports de Treichville. As preparations continue, the Ivorian Basketball Federation (FIBB) has unveiled the tournament's official logo, marking another important milestone ahead of one of Africa's premier youth basketball events. Led by FIBB President Moussa Diarra, Côte d'Ivoire has taken on the challenge of organizing both the men's and women's championships simultaneously. A total of 12 national teams in each competition will battle for the continental titles and qualification to future world events, with Mali entering as the defending champion in both categories after sweeping the 2024 edition. Beyond the competition itself, the event further strengthens Côte d'Ivoire's growing reputation as a major destination for international basketball. Following the country's recent investment in youth development and successful hosting of continental events, the 2026 AfroBasket U18 is expected to showcase the next generation of African stars while reinforcing the nation's position on the continent's basketball map. The participating teams and ticketing details are expected to be announced in the coming days. Until then, anticipation continues to build as Abidjan prepares to welcome Africa's brightest young talents for two weeks of elite basketball and unforgettable competition.
Final Qualification Spots to Be Decided in Dakar and RadèsFIBA Africa has officially announced the hosts for Window 4 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers. The decisive final qualifying games will take place from August 27 to 29, 2026, with Dakar, Senegal, and Radès, Tunisia, serving as the two host cities. Each nation will welcome one of the two remaining qualifying groups, where teams will battle for the final African tickets to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 in Qatar. Group CompositionGroup E – Dakar, Senegal 🇸🇳 Senegal 🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire 🇨🇲 Cameroon 🇬🇳 Guinea 🇸🇸 South Sudan 🇨🇩 DR Congo Group F – Radès, Tunisia 🇹🇳 Tunisia 🇦🇴 Angola 🇲🇱 Mali 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇳🇬 Nigeria 🇨🇻 Cape Verde Following the conclusion of Window 3 in July, the race for qualification remains wide open. In , enters the final window with strong momentum after an unbeaten home performance in Window 3. , boasting an impressive , is also among the leading contenders to secure a place at the World Cup, while Cameroon, Guinea, South Sudan, and DR Congo will all be looking to keep their qualification hopes alive. Meanwhile, promises another thrilling battle featuring some of Africa's basketball heavyweights. will compete for the remaining qualification spots in what is expected to be one of the tournament's most competitive groups. The fourth and final qualifying window will determine the that will represent the continent at the . With crucial matchups scheduled in Dakar and Radès, African basketball fans can look forward to an exciting conclusion to the qualification campaign as the continent's best teams fight for a place on the world's biggest basketball stage.
Following the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup held in Turkey, Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, a player of Cameroonian descent representing Team USA, was named the tournament MVP after leading the United States to another gold medal. The 17-year-old, a future Duke University player and 2.11m (6'11") big man, dominated the competition with his versatility and efficiency. He averaged 19.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.7 steals, while posting impressive shooting splits of 59% from the field, 53% from three-point range, and 88% from the free-throw line. In the final against Serbia, Boumtje Boumtje stepped up once again, recording 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks. His performance played a major role in the United States' commanding 107–81 victory and cemented his status as the tournament's standout player. The son of former Cameroonian international and NBA player Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, Joaquim is on a meteoric rise. Having developed at FC Barcelona before heading to Duke next season, he is now regarded as one of global basketball's top prospects, with some observers already projecting him as a potential number-one pick in the 2028 NBA Draft.
The First Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers has officially concluded, with 12 nations advancing to the Second Round after six games across four groups. With only five African berths available for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar, the race is now entering its decisive stage. Group A saw Cameroon finish atop the standings with a 5-1 record, edging South Sudan (4-2). Cape Verde secured the third qualifying spot at 3-3, while Libya was eliminated after finishing 0-6. In Group B, Senegal emerged as group winners with a 5-1 record, narrowly ahead of Côte d'Ivoire, who also finished 5-1. DR Congo claimed the final qualifying place with a 2-4 record, while exited the competition without a win. belonged to , who completed an impressive 5-1 campaign to finish first. and also advanced with identical 4-2 records, while was eliminated after finishing last. featured another dominant performance from , who topped the group with a 5-1 record. followed at 4-2, while secured the third and final qualification spot with a 3-3 record. was eliminated after ending the first phase with a 0-6 record. Unlike many qualification tournaments, teams . Each nation carries over the results earned against the other qualified teams from its First Round group, creating an immediate advantage for the strongest performers. The qualified teams are divided into two new groups of six: Cameroon (5-1) South Sudan (4-2) Nigeria (5-1) Tunisia (4-2) Guinea (4-2) Cape Verde (3-3) Senegal (5-1) Côte d'Ivoire (5-1) Mali (5-1) Angola (4-2) Egypt (3-3) DR Congo (2-4) Each team will play against the three qualifiers from the opposite group, with the carried-over records remaining in effect throughout the Second Round. Group F appears to be the most competitive, with all entering tied at , giving them a significant advantage over Angola, Egypt and DR Congo. Every game among the group's contenders could prove decisive in the battle for qualification. Group E is equally intriguing. holds a slight edge at 5-1, while remain firmly in contention with 4-2 records. , starting at 3-3, still has a realistic chance but can afford very few mistakes. The from each group will qualify directly for the in Qatar, while the across Groups E and F will earn Africa's fifth and final World Cup berth, ensuring a thrilling finish to the African Qualifiers.
Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal confirmed their status among Africa's basketball heavyweights by advancing to the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers following the conclusion of Window 3 in Dakar. The Elephants finished with a 2-1 record, highlighted by dominant victories over DR Congo (96-59) and Madagascar (99-74), while Senegal also posted a 3-0 mark after defeating Côte d'Ivoire in their rematch and taking care of business against Madagascar and DR Congo. DR Congo completed the trio of qualifiers from Group B thanks to the win 82-62, leaving Madagascar eliminated after 3 straight defeats. Although qualification has been secured, the job is far from finished. Results against the other qualified teams carry into the Second Round, making every victory increasingly valuable as Africa's top nations battle for the five World Cup tickets available for Qatar 2027.
Côte d'Ivoire's historic debut at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup has been filled with memorable performances and valuable experience against the world's best young talents. Drawn into a challenging Group D featuring global basketball powers, the African champions proved they belonged on the international stage. A promising group-stage campaign The Young Elephants opened their tournament by earning the country's first-ever victory at a FIBA U17 World Cup, defeating Venezuela 74-63. Jean-Philippe Oka led the way with 18 points and four steals. Côte d'Ivoire then pushed tournament contender Australia to the limit before falling 78-73. Barakel Koffi delivered an outstanding 20-point performance, while Raphael Ouedraogo anchored the defense with , showcasing his elite rim protection. Although Serbia claimed a victory in the final group game, emerged as one of the tournament's brightest young prospects. The talented guard exploded for , including , against one of Europe's strongest youth teams. With a , Côte d'Ivoire finished , earning a historic berth in the Round of 16 during their first-ever World Cup appearance. The Young Elephants' championship run came to an end with a in the Round of 16. Côte d'Ivoire remained competitive for much of the contest thanks to its aggressive transition offense, but Puerto Rico's efficient perimeter shooting proved decisive in the closing stages. Despite the defeat, the Ivorians remain in competition through the , providing another opportunity to gain valuable international experience. Next up is a highly anticipated matchup against on , in Istanbul. The game will be a rematch of the , where Côte d'Ivoire defeated Cameroon to win the African championship. The Young Elephants will now look to repeat that success on the world stage. Several Ivorian players have enjoyed outstanding tournaments: – , including . – Two-way leader who posted against Venezuela. – Explosive scorer with . – Defensive anchor highlighted by . Beyond the results, Côte d'Ivoire's World Cup debut has demonstrated the remarkable progress of the country's youth basketball program. Less than a year after winning the FIBA U16 AfroBasket title, the Young Elephants have shown they possess a generation capable of competing with the world's best and laying the foundation for a bright future for Ivorian basketball.
Everything Still to Play For
Group E
Senegal
Côte d'Ivoire
5-1 record
Group F
Tunisia, Angola, Mali, Egypt, Nigeria, and Cape Verde
Africa
