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.
BROOKLYN, New York — African basketball took center stage at the 2026 NBA Draft as more than ten players of African descent were selected during the two-day event at the Barclays Center. The historic class highlighted the continent’s growing influence on the global basketball landscape and the impact of development programs such as NBA Academy Africa. AJ Dybantsa makes history as No. 1 pick The biggest moment of the night came when the Washington Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick. The BYU standout proudly represented his family roots from the Democratic Republic of Congo by wearing a pin honoring the country. Dybantsa becomes only the second player with direct Congolese ties to be selected in the NBA Draft, following Serge Ibaka, who was drafted in 2008. His selection at the top of the draft represents another milestone for African basketball and the continent’s ability to develop elite-level talent. Nigeria leads African representation Nigeria once again emerged as one of the biggest talent pipelines in the draft, producing six selections across both rounds. The Nigerian players selected included: (Stanford), picked 17th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder before his rights were traded to the Detroit Pistons. (St. John’s), selected 23rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks after winning Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. (Kentucky), selected 41st overall. (Tennessee), selected 46th overall. (Virginia Tech), selected 48th overall. (Virginia), selected 53rd overall by the Houston Rockets. Onyenso’s selection marked another milestone as he became the third NBA Academy Africa alumnus to reach the NBA. Alongside Okpara, he also became part of only the second pair of Nigerian-born players selected in the same draft. Africa’s impact extended far beyond Nigeria. Rwanda celebrated a historic moment as , selected 13th overall by the Miami Heat, became only the second player of Rwandan heritage drafted into the NBA. Ghana also had representation through , selected 39th overall by the Houston Rockets, while the Central African Republic celebrated , selected 57th overall by the Atlanta Hawks. From local courts across Africa to the brightest stage in basketball, the 2026 NBA Draft delivered a powerful message: Africa is no longer only the future of basketball — it is already shaping its present.
The FIBA Intercontinental Cup is entering a new chapter. FIBA has officially announced that Beijing, China, will host the competition from 2026 to 2028, marking the first time the prestigious global club tournament will be staged in China. The move follows a successful three-year run in Singapore, which hosted the event between 2023 and 2025. Created in 1965, the Intercontinental Cup has evolved from a competition between a handful of continental champions into a truly global club championship. Beijing's selection reflects FIBA’s ambition to continue expanding the tournament’s international reach while capitalizing on China’s passion for basketball and proven experience in hosting major sporting events, including the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis described the decision as part of the organization’s mission to modernize and grow the competition, emphasizing Beijing’s ability to deliver world-class basketball events over the next three years. RSSB Tigers to Represent Africa in Beijing The announcement is particularly significant for African basketball. Following their historic BAL championship run, RSSB Tigers have already secured their place in the 2026 Intercontinental Cup and will represent Africa against champions from other regions of the world. Among the clubs already qualified for the 2026 edition are: RSSB Tigers (Basketball Africa League champions) Rytas Vilnius (Basketball Champions League Europe champions) Boca Juniors (Basketball Champions League Americas champions) Additional participants will be confirmed in the coming months. Over its 35 editions, the Intercontinental Cup has welcomed clubs from six continents and become one of the most prestigious tournaments in world basketball. European clubs have historically dominated the competition with 24 titles, while Spain remains the most successful nation with 12 championships. For Africa, the tournament continues to provide an opportunity to measure its top clubs against the best teams from Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. After recent appearances by clubs such as Al Ahly SC, Petro de Luanda and Al Ahly Ly, the spotlight now turns to the RSSB Tigers as they prepare to carry Africa’s hopes onto the world stage in Beijing this September. The 2026 edition is scheduled to tip off in late September, opening a new era for one of basketball’s most prestigious club competitions.
Madagascar
Group C
Nigeria
Tunisia
Guinea
Rwanda
Group D
Mali
Angola
Egypt
Uganda
Second Round: Carried-Over Results Could Prove Decisive
Africa
