Basketball 3×3 : Benin in the top 5

Benin has made a big leap in the African and world ranking of Fiba basketball 3×3. The Squirrels basketball players are now in the top 5 in Africa and rank 39th worldwide. This progress is the result of the participation of the U21 men's and women's selections in the FIBA ​​3×3 U23 Africa-Conference South qualifiers, which took place from 11 at 16 July 2022 in Nairobi Kenya.

From 86th place Benin moved to 39th place worldwide. On the continent, the Squirrels are now close to the African quinté. They're going up 8 steps of the classification and are 5th. Before the Nairobi tournament where the U21 Squirrels faced other nations more rated than them, Benin was 13th. They have also titillated the organizing country by winning historic meetings. In view of this performance, the executive committee of the Benin Basketball Federation believes that it has taken the right option. That of sending these teams to the front lines. "It seemed relevant to us to compare the level acquired by the players with the teams better ranked than Benin such as Kenya and Rwanda.. We have gained experience and our players have given the maximum,” said Ismahinl Onifadé, President of the FBBB. It was also an opportunity for the federation to evaluate the work started at the level of 3×3 these last months. A period marked in particular by the organization of the MTN Basket-ball League 3×3 and the Cotonou Dreals Open 3×3.

Looking to the future

As a saying goes, the future is being prepared today. The federation is already planning for the medium term. It sent an U21 team for a competition initially intended for players under 23 years. “This team, which is the first international experience, has demonstrated its potential and the room for improvement in 2 years left to them to become African champions by 2024” justified President Onifadé.

Fiba 3×3 U23 Africa Qualifiers – North Conference

After the Ecureuils U21 Men and Women who took part in the FIBA ​​3×3 Africa-Conference South qualifiers in Nairobi, Kenya, it will soon be the turn of the U23 selections (3X3) and U18 Men to make their entries. If the U23 selections are expected from Friday 12 to Thursday 18 August in Cairo, Egypt for the FIBA ​​3×3 U23 Africa-Conference North qualifiers, the young people of U18 are active to participate from 04 at 14 August 2022 at the 24th U18 Men’s African Nations Championship. To achieve the goals, the different selections multiply the training sessions to keep the bet.

 Damien TOLOMISSI