African basketball - The African Mirror

By SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY

SEVEN African basketball prospects are among the 40 high-school-age prospects who will participate in the eighth annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global Camp. Their participation and inclusion at the BWB Global Camp underscores the abundance of basketball talent on the continent, ready and eager to continue Africa’s legacy as a sports talent hub. A press statement by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) on February 9 announced the names of the 40 youngsters who will be part of the camp that will be held between February 16 and 18 at the Mojo Up Sports Complex…

Nov

2023

South Africa to host ‘Kalahari Conference’ of the BAL – African basketball round-up

By SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY

FOR the first time in its history, Central African basketball team Bangui Sporting Club has qualified for the Basketball Africa League after playing a series of back-to-back narrowly won games at the West Division Elite 16 BAL qualifiers in Cameroon from October 31 to November 5. Led by trailblazing Australian coach Liz Mills and defensive specialist Jeff Sparrow, Bangui took down FUS Rabat in the last two seconds of the final game, 93-90. Less than 24 hours before they squeezed past Al Ahly Benghazi 87-85, also in the final seconds of that game, the two wins came off the back…

Oct

2023

The World of African Basketball

FORMER Kenya women's basketball team captain and international commentator Silalei Shani provides all the latest moves and grooves in this week's The World of African Basketball. After applying for American citizenship in a move that saddened many Cameroonians, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has come in for criticism again with the announcement that he would be playing for the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Embiid, who holds three passports, made his decision for family reasons and to follow his dream of winning an Olympic medal. “It was difficult. Obviously, I like all three options. I love my country…But…

Sep

2023

African Basketball News: Senegal season wraps, South Sudan ranked top in Africa and Mills heads to Central Africa

WITH the Road to BAL qualifier fixtures recently released, the conversation moves to transfers - including technical teams and players. One notable move is the appointment of trailblazing Australian basketball coach, Liz Mills, to lead Central African Republic’s Bangui Sporting Club. Mills, who has worked with African men’s basketball for many years, including a stint with Ivory Coast’s ABC Fighters, who she led to the 2023 BAL quarterfinals, expressed her excitement at the new challenge. “It’s all about creating the right environment to be successful and I think that starts at the top…creating an honest, trustworthy, and transparent environment, that’s…

Dec

2022

From Mali to Florida – the amazing story of an African basketball star

By SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY

SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY WHEN Malian national and Arizona men’s basketball centre, Oumar Ballo, was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2022 Maui Invitational in late November, the powerful, 7-feet-tall player made it clear he was Africa's next big name in basketball. After averaging 21 points and 10.7 rebounds and a career-high 30 points and 13 rebounds in the title game vs. Creighton, Ballo garnering plenty of attention. The junior from Mali is no new face to African basketball’s highlight reels, however,. Ballo played for Mali at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 African Championship in Mauritius, averaging 14 points…

Jul

2022

African basketball: Calls for new narrative in Nigeria, NBA draft action

AFRICA continued to play its role as a growing hub for NBA talent in June, with 8 African players drafted in this year’s NBA Draft 2022. The event, on June 23, had wide African representation. Two players who have garnered a lot of attention are Christian Koloko of Cameroon and Khalifa Diop of Senegal. Arizona centre Koloko was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the 33rd pick. He is the first Cameroonian player drafted into the NBA since Pascal Siakam, in 2016. Gran Canaria (Spain) forward Diop was selected 39th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers becoming the first Senegalese to…

Aug

2021

Ujiri and Raptors agree on new deal

Ujiri and Raptors agree on new deal BOITUMELO RANTAO MASAI Ujiri arrived in Toronto in 2013 and, after growing his reputation as one of the most sought after executives in professional basketball, has been named vice-chairman and president of the Toronto Raptors. The Toronto Raptors, the only National Basketball Association (NBA) team based in Canada, had the pleasure of winning the 2019 Championship with Ujiri at the helm. Ujiri is also a polarizing figure in basketball for his many acts of global philanthropy through his Giants of Africa organization. More recently, Ujiri has attended the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL)…

Jul

2021

Nigeria zero in on Olympic goal

Nigeria have announced one of their strongest national rosters ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Led by head coach Mike Brown, who had the tough task of trimming the 49-man squad to just 15, the talented squad looks forward as the sole African representatives. Twelve countries will compete in Tokyo for Olympic Gold in Men’s Basketball and the Nigerians are primed to provide a competitive touch of basketball. Nigeria are grouped with Australia, Germany, and Italy. Germany and Italy qualified for the Olympics after successful outings at their respective Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQT) in Serbia and Croatia. The 15-man list…

Jul

2021

All set for Cape Verde Praia League