ABIDJAN (Cote d’Ivoire) – Ivorian champions Friend's Basketball Association (FBA) came out of the blue with flames that consumed all their opponents.
Apart from winning the national championship to the shock of most, FBA made their international debut in the Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) Zone 3 Qualifiers and did not disappoint. Just as they did in their national championship, they showed class in Liberia and announced their arrival in style.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED FOR THE WBLA QUALIFIERS
FBA qualified for the WBLA Zone 3 qualifiers as the 2024 champions of Côte d'Ivoire. Winning the national championship gave them the automatic right to represent the West African country at this level of competition. In the National Championship Finals they defeated SOA 2-0 in the final series.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED FOR THE 2024 WBLA
The Zone 3 qualifiers in Liberia pitted FBA against top teams including the champions of Liberia, Nigeria and Benin. In the group stage, FBA recorded two wins to book their place in the Semi-Finals. They defeated Energie of Benin to book their place in the final round in Dakar.
In the Final, FBA were up against one of their toughest opponents in MFM of Nigeria, who they defeated 62-57. Both teams scored 16 points in the first quarter, but MFM Queens took a 1-point lead into the halftime break. The final period proved decisive as Friend's Basketball Association went on a strong 17-11 run to seal the win.
The result was a testament to the meticulous preparation by head coach Benga Lemou, who managed to motivate his players despite the limited preparation time
KEY PLAYERS
FBA has several players who form the backbone of the team, including Ouraga Flora, Tolo Morgane, Berté Saran, Tounkara Djelika, Traoré Mariam and Williston Aspen, who recently arrived from the United States.
These talented and experienced players are vital to the team's success, but the contributions of the rest of the squad are not neglected.
NATIONAL TEAM PLAYERS
A number of FBA players have been selected to represent Côte d'Ivoire at international level. These include Tolo Morgane, Ouraga Flora, Guindo Aminata, Kolga Safiétou. Their presence in the national team is a testament to their high level of performance and skill.
YEAR OF FOUNDATION & TEAM OWNER
FBA was founded in 2007 and the 2023-2024 season marks its 18th anniversary.
The team is led by its President, Mrs Traoré Safiatou, a visionary and committed leader who champions inclusivity and female leadership.
FBA is the only women's basketball club in Côte d'Ivoire founded and run entirely by women.
Traoré Safiatou is also the assistant coach, having been a player and captain of the club for several years. Her experience as a former player enables her to instil values of discipline, resilience and teamwork in the current players.
Since its inception, FBA has achieved an impressive record of success, including:
- National Cup Winners (2013, 2022-2023)
- Côte d'Ivoire champions (2022-2023, 2023-2024)
- Super Cup Winners (2022-2023, 2023-2024)
- Multiple runners-up over the years.
HEAD COACH
Benga Lemou is the head coach and general manager of the FBA team. He began his basketball coaching career in the early 1980s in Côte d'Ivoire, after coaching in other countries. With decades of experience, he has been instrumental in shaping FBA's strategy and performance.
A key figure since the team's inception, his leadership and expertise have been instrumental in the club's success.
HOME GAMES AND VENUE CAPACITY
FBA play their home games at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, a covered arena located in the Treichville district of Abidjan. The venue is one of the most important sports facilities in Côte d'Ivoire, with a capacity of 3,500, and hosts major basketball competitions as well as other sporting events.
FIBA