Basketball fans in Africa are in for yet another thrilling year ahead, with major events lined up for 2025. Among the highlights are the highly anticipated AfroBasket finals and the fifth season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), just to name a few. Weekend Sport takes a closer look at the key basketball tournaments and events to look forward to across the continent in 2025. AfroBasket qualifiers Window 3 (February) Each of the 20 national teams vying for a place at the 2025 AfroBasket will be back in action in February to fight for a place at the continental showpiece. So far, many teams have played at least three games each in the two previous qualifying windows in February and November 2024. However, it is the crucial February games that will determine who makes it to the final round. BAL 2025 (April-June) Africa's premier basketball club’s competition, BAL, will celebrate its fifth anniversary this year with four African cities hosting the league from April to June. The 12 teams will be divided into three conferences, attracting four teams each. Each conference will play a 12-game group phase during which each team will face the other three teams twice. The Kalahari Conference group phase will take place from April 5-13 in Rabat, Morocco. The Sahara Conference will take place from Saturday, April 26 to Sunday, May 4 at the Dakar Arena in Senegal with the Nile Conference set to take place from Saturday, May 17 to Sunday, May 25 at BK Arena in Kigali. ALSO READ: BAL 2025: Morocco, Rwanda to host conference games as playoffs head to South Africa Eight teams from across the three conferences will qualify for the Playoffs in Pretoria, South Africa, which will tip off on Friday, June 6 and culminate with the 2025 BAL Finals on Saturday, June 14. FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup (June 28 - July 6) Top basketball countries across Africa will participate in the 2024 FIBA U19 AfroBasket championship due from June 28 to July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland. U18 AfroBasket holders Mali and runners-up Cameroon will represent Africa at the international competition. FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup (July 12 – 20) The FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup is also a key event in 2025. Mali, the Women's AfroBasket champions, the only nation from the continent to ever reach the semi-finals of the U19 Women's Basketball World Championship, will be joined by Nigeria as Africa's sole representatives at the international event. Women's AfroBasket (July 25 - August 3) The biennial women's AfroBasket will be held in Côte d'Ivoire for the first time. The 12-nation competition will see Nigeria attempt to become the first country to win a record fifth consecutive African championship. ALSO READ: Côte d’Ivoire to host 2025 FIBA Women's AfroBasket After finishing third in Yaoundé in 2015, the D'Tigresses, who are currently ranked eighth in the world, have since won the 2017, 2019 and 2021 before lifting their most recent trophy in Kigali in 2023. Men’s AfroBasket (August 12-24) The quadrennial African championship returns to Angola for the first time since 2007. ALSO READ: Angola to host 2025 FIBA Afrobasket The 16-national championship will see 15 nations attempt to prevent Tunisia from winning a third consecutive AfroBasket title since 2017. FIBA U16 AfroBasket Championships The biennial U16 AfroBasket (Boys and Girls) will serve as qualifiers for the 2026 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in both categories. Host countries and dates are yet to be confirmed. 2025 WBLA The 12-team Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) is expected to take place later this year, tentatively in December. Mozambique's Ferroviario de Maputo won the last edition of the tournament last month in Dakar, Senegal, after defeating Egyptian giants Al Ahly SC 81-72 in the final. Rwanda’s APR claimed bronze after beating home side ASC Ville de Dakar in third place match.
