As the echoes of cheers and the memories of the recently concluded AFCON championships fade away, Africa gears up for another thrilling sporting spectacle – the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers. Just twelve days after the crowning of a new AFCON champion, basketball enthusiasts across the continent eagerly await the tip-off of a competition that promises intense battles, unexpected twists, and the emergence of new stars.
The AfroBasket Qualifiers will kick off with Window 1 on February 23, featuring teams from Groups B, D, and E battling it out in Egypt and Tunisia. The remaining eight teams from Groups A and C will enter the fray during Window 2 in November.
The stakes are high, and teams must finish in the top three of their respective groups over two rounds to secure a coveted spot in the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket.
In the lead-up to the qualifiers, teams have been hard at work, making strategic moves to bolster their chances. 2021 AfroBasket runners-up, Cote d’Ivoire, have secured the services of Spaniard Natxo Lezkano as the head coach of the Elephants.
Lezkano, returning for the fourth time, played a pivotal role in the team’s qualification for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. His reappointment signals the team’s commitment to building on past successes.
Reigning African champions Tunisia have undergone coaching changes, appointing Frenchman Mehdy Mary to replace Mario Palma. Mary is the third coach to lead the three-time African champions since Dirk Bauermann guided Tunisia to victory in the 2021 AfroBasket.
The coaching carousel continues, with Turkish Erman Kunter briefly taking the reins after a disappointing 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup campaign.
Egypt, too, has witnessed changes in leadership as Henrik Rodl steps in for Roy Rana at the helm of the Pharaohs. These coaching adjustments underline the commitment of teams to find the right formula for success in the AfroBasket Qualifiers.
Morocco, gearing up for the AfroBasket Pre-Qualifiers against Libya in Zone 1, has made a significant move by appointing Spaniard Gustavo Aranza Mendez as the head coach. Mendez replaces Labib El Hamrani, who led Morocco to the 2023 FIBA AfroCan title in Angola.
As the teams finalize their preparations, the basketball community eagerly anticipates the clash of titans in Hammamet, Tunisia, and Cairo, Egypt. The AfroBasket Qualifiers are not just about securing a ticket to the main event but also about showcasing the resilience, skill, and determination of African basketball on the global stage. With coaching changes, renewed strategies, and a hunger for victory, the stage is set for a thrilling journey towards the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket
