FIBA Africa has awarded Côte d'Ivoire the hosting rights for the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket for both boys and girls, scheduled to take place in September. The West African nation will stage the two tournaments in Abidjan, just a year after successfully hosting the 2025 Women's AfroBasket. The official dates for the competitions are yet to be confirmed, while qualification tournaments are ongoing from March through July. ALSO READ: U18 Afrobasket: Rwanda set for June preps During the qualification phase, Rwanda will compete in the Zone 5 qualifiers, set to be held in Uganda from June 14 to 20. Other participating nations are expected to include Burundi, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Tanzania. The boys’ team will be coached by Sunny Niyomugabo, while Joselyne Munyaneza will lead the girls’ side. Preparations for the qualifiers are expected to begin in early June, with the coaching staff set to name the players who will represent the country. The U18 AfroBasket tournaments will also serve as qualification events for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
