Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire Qualify for 2027 FIBA U-19 World Cups

Col. Sam Ahmedu (Rtd), President of FIBA Africa Zone 3, congratulated Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire for qualifying for the 2027 FIBA U-19 World Cups following their performances at the African U-18 Championships held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The championships concluded on August 16, where Côte d’Ivoire qualified through its men’s team after winning the championship against Senegal.

Nigeria secured its spot through its women’s team, which finished second after losing to Mali in the final. Ahmedu described the qualifications as a significant boost for basketball development in FIBA Africa Zone 3 and praised the players, coaches, and administrators for their efforts.

He emphasized the importance of investing in youth development to strengthen national teams and produce players capable of competing at higher levels. Ahmedu urged basketball stakeholders in the region to prioritize developing young players and enhancing grassroots programs to maximize their potential.