The year 2024 promises an array of exciting basketball events on the continent, including the 2024 Paris Olympics and the fourth edition of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) to mention a few. Times Sport presents a preview of some captivating African basketball highlights to watch in 2024. 2025 FIBA AfroBasket pre-qualifiers (January) The quest for a ticket to the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket Qualifiers begins in January with teams that missed out the previous edition of the quadrennial AfroBasket taking to the floor across various African cities. ALSO READ: Rwanda to face Senegal, Cameroon in Afrobasket qualifiers Antananarivo, Madagascar, will be the first city to host a pre-qualifier, gathering FIBA Africa Zone 7 countries before other identified cities follow. The 2025 AfroBasket pre-qualifiers will conclude right before the AfroBasket Qualifiers begin in February. Women's Olympic qualifying tournament (February) Reigning African champions Nigeria and 2023 Women's AfroBasket runner-up Senegal will represent the continent at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) that will take place in Antwerp, Belgium in February. Nigeria and Senegal were drawn in the Antwerp WOQT against hosts Belgium and reigning Olympic champions USA. Basketball Africa League (March-June) The Basketball Africa League (BAL) promises to celebrate its fourth anniversary in a remarkable fashion. ALSO READ: BAL2024: Conference games get underway on March 9 The 2024 BAL season will feature the top 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing a total of 48 games across four African countries - South Africa, Egypt, Senegal and Rwanda - over four months, marking the first BAL games in South Africa and the first time the league will be staged in four different countries. FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (July) Four African countries - Angola, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire and Egypt - will compete in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in an attempt to join South Sudan at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 2024 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup U16 African champions Guinea and runners-up Egypt will represent the continent at the 2024 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in Turkey from June 29 to July 7. U16 African champions Mali and runners-up Egypt will represent Africa at the 2024 FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup in Mexico from July 13-21. Olympic Games (July 27 - August 11) So far, one African country - South Sudan - has qualified to the Paris Olympics with four other countries - Angola, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire and Egypt - hoping to join the Bright Stars. Meanwhile, one of the two African teams - Nigeria or Senegal - will qualify to the Women's Olympics tournament through the WOQT. FIBA U18 African Championships The biennial U18 African Championships (Men and Women) return this year. Schedule and host countries are yet to be confirmed.
