Organisers give teams Sept 25 deadline for registration

FIBA Africa has given teams expected to participate in FIBA Africa Zone Three Championship in Lome, Togo to register for the event on or before September 25.

The tournament holds from October 21 to 30 with participating teams expected from Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Togo and Liberia. The championship will also serve as qualifier for the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for men and women, which will take place between November and December in Mozambique.

According to a release signed by FIBA Africa Secretary General, Bilé Alphonse, any team that failed to meet the deadline would have its licensing fees doubled and also pay a fine of $1000.

Disclosing that two teams are expected to register from each country, Alphonse added that only the African national federations affiliated to FIBA and FIBA Africa have the right to participate in this competition, provided they have fulfilled all their financial obligations.

He also said that federations interested in the competition must confirm their participation before September 15 to FIBA Africa Secretariat, while the list should be submitted 10 days later.

Meanwhile, the President of the FIBA Zone Three, Col Sam Ahmedu (rtd), has commended the Togo Basketball Federation for accepting to host the championship.

Ahmedu said the Togolese have shown their love for basketball development in the zone by accepting to host the championship and called on other countries to emulate the Togo Basketball Federation.

“We (the board) are excited that the event will come up in Lome. It is a sign of better things to come in the zone. All the countries that make up the zone must ensure their representatives turn up for the event, which the Togo basketball Federation has promised will be a befitting one,” he said.

The FIBA Zone Three boss assured that the Zone would work closely with the Togolese Federation to ensure a hitch free tournament.