ABIDJAN (Cote d’Ivoire) – Palaise des Sports located in Treichville, Cote d'Ivoire has played host to so many important basketball games, tournaments and championships with more still to come.

From July 8-18, the arena will play host to the Zone 3 FIBA Africa U18 Qualifiers for Men and Women ahead of the Final Round billed for Pretoria, South Africa.

Eight national U18 teams from the West Africa region (Zone 3) are expected for each category.

From Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria and Togo will battle to qualify for the Final Round.

Benin fished eighth in the nine-team U18 African Championship in 2022

The 2024 FIBA U18 African  Championship serves as a qualifier for the 2025 FIBA U19  Basketball World Cup.

Despite Benin, the Zone’s only participant at the last edition of the African Championship held in Madagascar finishing eighth out of the nine teams that featured in the Men’s category, they will be aiming to make a return to better their position.

If Benin qualify to the 18th edition of the tournament, it will mark a fourth appearance for them, having participated in Madagascar 2014 and Rwanda 2016 respectively.

Other countries from the region that have made it to the Final Round include Ghana (Madagascar 2012), Cote d'Ivoire (South Africa 2006, Egypt 2008, Rwanda 2010, Mozambique 2012, Madagascar 2014 and Rwanda 2016).

Togo, on their part, have made a single appearance in Angola way back in 1980.

Under the leadership of Gina Adekambi as President, Togo will be aiming to make a return to international basketball at this level.

Nigeria boast the biggest impact with a total of 11 appearances with a total of 6 gold and 3 silver medals from the records of participation in this category.

Mali are the current FIBA U18 Women's African Championship

For the Women, only three countries namely Benin, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria have made it to the Final Round before.

Benin hosted the Final Round in 2006, having finished fourth before qualifying to 2008 edition in Tunisia in 2008 when they finished eighth.

Cote d'Ivoire, on their part, have participated five times with 2 silver medals to their credit in Mali 2000 and Benin 2006 respectively.

The other times were in Tunisia in 2008, Egypt in 2010 and 2014.

Nigeria have not been impressive having made only two appearances in Tunisia 2008 with a 4th place finish and a silver medal in Egypt 2010.

With the other countries getting their acts together, the battle for who gets the tickets this time around will be fierce.

This year's host Cote d'Ivoire are sure to present a team in each category. Same as Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Liberia, Niger and Burkina Faso an exciting battle that will produce the best team that will be in South Africa.

At the qualifiers, it is expected that the competition will throw up future senior national team players in both categories being a class where players want to showcase themselves and make the countries proud.

FIBA