The Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) Africa have this week confirmed Egypt as the host country of this year’s FIBA U18 African Championships.
The Championships which cater for both men and women have been in existence since 1977 but only became a bi-tournament in 2006.
It was also confirmed that the tournaments will take place in December with the exact dates to be confirmed later.
Initially scheduled for August 2020 in Equatorial Guinea, the FIBA U18 African Championship returns to Egypt for the first time since 2008.
Twelve years ago, hosts Egypt beat Angola in the Final of the tournament in Alexandria to lift the third of their five U18 titles.
The biennial tournament, one of the highlights of the FIBA Africa calendar, has seen four different continental champions in its last four editions.
Senegal won the 2012 edition in Mozambique, Egypt lifted the 2014 tournament trophy in Madagascar, two years later Angola claimed their fourth trophy in the history of the competition, and two years ago, hosts Mali upset Senegal in front of a frenzy home crowd.
The teams that finish in the first two places will represent Africa at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2021.
In a turn of events, Egypt have also been named hosts of the FIBA U18 Women’s African Championship 2020, replacing Mali.
As the three-time reigning champions, Mali have dominated the game in the continent of Africa.
Mali have won four of the last six editions of the biennial tournament, having done so in Maputo (2018), Cairo (2016 and 2014) and Rades (2008).
The Malians have won a record seven titles with Democratic Republic of Congo winning twice and Egypt, Senegal, Angola and Tunisia winning once each dating back to 1985.
The winners and runners-up of the FIBA U18 African Championship for Womens will advance to the 16-nation FIBA U19 Women’s Championship 2021.
