U-18 women's national basketball team players Brigitte Nibishaka and Rebecca Cyuzuzo left for France on Tuesday, January 28, after receiving full scholarships to continue their development at the Tango Bourges Basket (TBB) Academy.

Their selection for the opportunity followed a strong performance at the 2024 U-18 Africa Basketball Championship in Pretoria, South Africa, where they represented Rwanda.

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Rwanda Basketball Federation (Ferwaba) nominated them to pursue both academic and basketball training in France to further their skills.

Nibishaka, 19, was the top scorer of the national women’s basketball league, amassing 501 points and leading Groupe Scolaire Marie Reine de Rwaza to a fourth-place finish. She was also named MVP for the 2024 regular season.

Ferwaba’s partnership with TBB aims to elevate Rwandan basketball through academic and athletic pathways, building capacity for coaches and positioning Rwanda as a hub for women’s basketball development in Africa.

ALSO READ: The humble rise of Brigitte Nibishaka, Rwanda’s new basketball star in the making

TBB, a club with a rich history in elite basketball competitions, is renowned for nurturing talent.

TBB became the first French team to win a FIBA women’s competition, claiming the 1995 Ronchetti Cup. Between 1995 and 2001, the club won three EuroLeague titles and six consecutive national championships.