South Africa withdraw from FIBA Africa 2023 qualifying tournaments

JOHANNESBURG (South Africa) - South Africa will not take part in the upcoming qualifiers for the 2023 Women's AfroBasket and FIBA AfroCan, it's been confirmed.

Scheduled for next week in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, (February 20-28) the two tournaments would end South Africa's absence from international competition, but Basketball South Africa (BSA) informed FIBA Africa of its withdrawal from the qualifiers. No further details were given for the withdrawal. 

South Africa last competed at Women's AfroBasket in 2015 in Yaounde, Cameroon. South Africa women's team currently rank at No.18 in Africa (102 in the World).

Ranked at No. 23 in Africa (125 in the World) South Africa men's team last competed at AfroBasket in 2017 where they played the Group Phase in Dakar, Senegal.

FIBA Africa Zone 6's qualifiers for the 2023 Women's AfroBasket and AfroCan are scheduled for February 20-28 in Bulawayo.

Participating countries in the regional qualifier for the AfroCan include Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Participating countries in the regional qualifier for the Women's AfroBasket include Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Launched in 2019 in Bamako, Mali, the FIBA AfroCan is a continental competition primarily destined for players based on the continent of Africa.

The 2023 FIBA AfroCan Final Phase is scheduled for July (7-16) while the 2023 Women's AfroBasket is scheduled for July 28 to August 6 in Kigali, Rwanda. 

Democratic Republic of Congo won the first edition of the FIBA AfroCan four years ago. Nigeria are the reigning FIBA Women's AfroBasket champions. 

FIBA