ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - In the final stage of the race for FIBA AfroBasket 2025, Libya is one of the battlegrounds for qualification to the main event in Angola (12-24 August).
Three days (21-23 February) of competition in the Libyan capital Tripoli will determine which countries in Group B (Cape Verde, Libya, Uganda and Nigeria) and Group E (Tunisia, Kenya and Guinea) will travel to southern Africa in August.
FIBA.basketball takes a look at the two groups and the teams that will be battling it out in the coming days.
Group B
Cape Verde
Group B leaders Cape Verde are 3-0 up and hoping to maintain their dominance, coach Emanuel Trovoada has named much of the same squad that fought for the island nation in Monastir, Tunisia, last year.
Veteran star Ivan Almeida returns to the Blue Sharks, while Roesly Mendes and Aniel Brito are new additions to the squad.
Shooting guard Patrick Lima (11 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game and 1.3 assists per game) will be one of the go-to guys for the 2023 AfroBasket semi-finalists.
Cape Verde can also count on the big-play duo of Almeida and Betinho Gomes (8.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game), who both have experience of playing their best basketball in high-pressure situations.
Libya
Hosts Libya, second in Group B, are ready to end their 16-year absence from the AfroBasket, led by prolific guard Mohamed Sadi (17 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game and 5.7 assists per game), who starred for the team in the first window last year.
Sadi will not have to carry the team alone as co-guard Naseim Badrush (13.5 points per game, 3.5 assists per game and 11 rebounds per game) proved he was up to the task in last year's qualifiers.
Libya's home supporters will be crucial as their noise from the stands could help propel them to AfroBasket.
Uganda
Uganda are third in the group and can rely on the heroics of Robinson Opong, who scored 39 points in their only win over Nigeria in Tunisia last year.
In Opong (23.3 points per game, eight rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game) and returning former NBA player Ishmael Wainright, Uganda have a duo capable of producing match-winning performances on any given night.
Nigeria
The 2015 AfroBasket champions, the D'Tigers, had a tough time in the first window, finishing without a win in Tunisia.
Coach Mohammed Abdulrahman has only retained two players from the first qualifying round. Mike Nuga (21.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and four assists per game) and Ibe Agu have retained their places in the Nigeria squad.
The new-look D'Tigers have a hole to dig out of and only a miracle can revive their campaign.
Group E
Tunisia
Tunisia, the 2021 AfroBasket champions, will be looking to build on their 3-0 record in Monastir last year.
Coach Mehdy Mary is likely to rely on playmaker Omar Abada, who averaged 16.3 points and 6.3 assists per game, to keep his side on the move.
Senior power forward Makram Romdhane will also be in the mix after a solid start to the season in which he averaged 10 points, 8.3 rebounds and five assists.
Oussama Marnaoui, who is averaging 11 points per game, gives Tunisia the youthful edge they need to seal qualification for the AfroBasket.
Angola
Angola, 11-time AfroBasket champions and hosts of AfroBasket 2025, will use the qualifiers in Libya to assess the quality and depth of their team.
Josep Claros Canals will be looking to star players Jilson Bango (18 points and 7.7 rebounds per game), Abubakar Gakou (16.7 points and five rebounds per game) and Childe Dundao (15 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game) to maintain their production from the first window.
Kenya
The Morans will be looking to repeat the heroics that saw them qualify for the 2021 AfroBasket.
Tylor Ongwae, who scored the memorable buzzer against Angola in the 2021 qualifiers, has returned to Cliff Owour's side.
Another player making a comeback is Tom Wamukota, who last featured at AfroCan 2023. The duo will add firepower to Kenya's attack. Small forward Albert Odero (18 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game and 4.3 assists per game) was the star of his country's qualifying campaign in Egypt, and Kenya will be looking to him for similar performances.
Guinea
The West Africans went winless in Egypt last year and will be in desperation mode from the first jump ball in Libya.
Floor general Shannon Evans, who is averaging 23.3 points, five rebounds and four assists per game, will be at the heart of Guinea's attack, while Cheick Conde (20 points and 7.7 rebounds) will put his body on the line in the paint.
The task looks insurmountable for Guinea, but they have some players who can step up.
FIBA