Top prospects to watch out for at 2022 FIBA U18 African Championship

 

ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - Madagascar is set to witness the emergence of new stars in the FIBA U18 African Championship which marks the 20th edition.

The 2022 FIBA U18 African Championship will run from August 4-15 in Antananarivo, Madagascar. 

Here we take a close look at some of the key players that are expected to make a difference in the Antananarivo showpiece.

IBRAHIMA DIALLO (Guinea)

Position: GUARD
Birth: 30 May, 2004 (age 18)
Height: 170cm (5ft 7in)

Guinea will be making a third straight appearance at the FIBA U18 African Championship.

At the 2020 edition, the country finished 4th but will hope to make a big difference this time around with new star Ibrahima Diallo.

Diallo had debuted for Guinea at the 2019 FIBA U16 African Championship, graduated to the U18 team where he played at the 2020 FIBA U18 African Championship and emerging as Guinea's youngest player during the third window of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup held in Abidjan.

Diallo will bring the experiences he has garnered especially from the World Cup Qualifiers to bear on his team to help his team finish on the podium.

Looking ahead to the championship in Madagascar, Diallo told FIBA basketball recently: "We are going need to perfect our plays, gel together, don't move like water, we know each other well, that's what is going to make us win."

ADAM ELHALAWANY (Egypt)

Position: Small Forward
Birth: 9 Apr 2005 (age 17)
Height: 190cm (6ft 3in)

Egypt will be attempting to get a sixth title and would be banking on Adam Elhalawany.

In the 2020 final, he was the one who sank two of his three-point attempts en route to eight points in the title game and was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

In July, he was in the Egypt team that featured at the FIBA U17 World Cup scoring a total of 58 points in 7 games. 

IBRAHIM OUMAR DOUMBIA (Mali)

Position: Point Guard
Birth: 02 Feb 2006 (age 16)
Height: 185cm (6ft 1in)

Oumar Doumbia was not a member of the Mali team to the FIBA U16 African Championship in Egypt but made the cut for the FIBA U17 World Cup held in Spain.

He was consistent at the championship recording a total of 94 points from 7 games.

In Mali's game against Lebanon, Doumbia dropped 21 points to lead the floor for his team and another 19 points against the Dominican Republic. Though, a slow starter, he becomes dangerous as the championship progresses. No doubt, Mali will be hoping that he brings his experience to help the team.

ZAKARIYA KHODJA (Algeria)

Position: Point Guard
Birth: 10 May 2005 (age 17)
Height: 182cm (6ft)

At the 2016 FIBA Africa U16 Championship in Egypt, Algeria returned to winning ways finishing third place.

That third place victory was courtesy of Zakariya Khodja who plays for US Menaceur of Algeria. He‎ scored 19 points to his country's charge to victory over Chad that made a first appearance in the Championship.

After the victory, Khodja said had expressed joy that his team won a bronze. "It took us a look of effort to reach this stage and we thank our coaches for their patience and sacrifice of their time to teach us."

DICK RUTATIKA SANO (Rwanda)

Position: Power Forward
Birth: 31 Jan 2004 (age 18)
Height: 205m (6ft 9in)

Rwanda's team captain Dick Rutatika Sano will be leading his country to Madagascar with the sole intention of proving that they deserve the tag of champions of Zone 5.

Rwanda were simply unstoppable in the final that saw them emerge champions as they stayed unbeaten against Uganda and Tanzania in the double-elimination series of the qualifiers to finish on 8 points.
Sano had fun as he led the floor with 19 points, 8 rbs, 4 ast and was also awarded the MVP trophy.

This will be Rwanda's fifth appearance at the U18 continental showcase since 2010 and Sano is expected to reproduce the performance that saw his country as the best in Zone 5.

FIBA