KINSHASA (DR Congo) - The race to secure FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2025 slots begins on 20 August with Zone 4 qualifiers in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
Cameroon and hosts DR Congo, the two best sides in the region, take to the floor in a two-game series in Kinshasa, with the winner assured a place in the 12-team continental showpiece slated for next year.
Other regional qualifiers for a chance to play in the biennial event will take place between November 2024 and February 2025 with the championship slated for Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Can DR Congo pull off an upset against Cameroon?
A lot of history exists between the sides but the visitors head to the clash as favourites, having finished sixth (3-2) in the last edition of continental showpiece, ranking six places above their rivals DRC who placed last without a win.
After two consecutive appearances in the tournament in 2017 (3-3) and 2019 (2-4), the Congolese missed out the 2021 tournament in Yaounde. Their return in Rwanda was thanks to Cameroon having an automatic slot as second runners-up from three years ago.
The three-time Women's Basketball World Cup participant (1983, 1990 and 1998), and the first African country to participate in the Women's Olympic tournament in 1996 has struggled to replicate their 1980's/90's form.
DR Congo's last podium finish dates back to 2000 in Tunisia when they won bronze.
On their part, three-time (2021, 1984 and 1983) bronze medalists who won silver in 2015, Cameroon, are banking on recent form and home advantage to carry them past the 1996 Olympians.
So far, the only teams qualified for next year's Women's AfroBasket are reigning champions Nigeria, Senegal who finished second in the 2023 edition of the tournament, bronze medalist Mali and Rwanda who finished fourth.
The FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2025 will take pace in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
FIBA