ABIDJAN (Côte d’Ivoire) - The FIBA Youth Camps Africa continue to go from strength to strength almost three years after they were first launched.
The 2024 camps in Douala, Cameroon, and Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, were a chance for young talents from across the continent to showcase their skills.
These gatherings focused on skill development, competitive spirit and cultural exchange, setting the stage for a bright future for African basketball.
Players aged 15 and 16 from 22 African countries participated in the camps, which focused on refining technical skills while promoting discipline, cooperation and perseverance.
Organized in partnership with the NBA, the camps took place at the Japoma Sports Complex in Douala for the boys and the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan for the girls. The collaboration also included experts from the FIBA Americas region, who enriched the program with diverse insights and methodologies.
In Douala, the young male players engaged in intensive training and various competitions. Events such as the Three-Point Challenge and individual competitions highlighted individual skills, with Nigeria's Ibrahim Iniola winning the shooting competition. The culminating All-Star Game saw Team Kribi defeat Team Bamenda, capping off a memorable week of action.
The camp recognized Tunisia's Adem Rafrafi as the MVP for his leadership and performance. He was joined on the all-star list by players from Morocco, South Sudan, Gambia and Cameroon.
The camp in Abidjan brought together top female prospects for rigorous sessions and spirited competition.
Among the highlights was the closely contested All-Star Game, in which Team Abidjan narrowly edged out Team Yamoussoukro. The "Queens of the Court" a 3x3 event designed to further showcase the skills and talents of the players, saw Uganda's Maxine Anyango and Côte d'Ivoire's Konan Océane stand out.
Tunisia's Menyar Ben Rabeh was named MVP of the tournament for her outstanding performances and was joined in the All-Star Five by players from Mali, Mozambique, Côte d'Ivoire and Benin.
Reflecting on her achievement, Ben Rabeh said: "It was a great atmosphere. I'm so happy to represent Tunisia and be the MVP of the camp. This experience has been incredibly enriching, and I'd like to thank my coach and my teammates who traveled to Abidjan with me.
The coaches emphasized fundamentals, team play, and mental toughness, creating an enriching environment for growth both on and off the field, with both camps focusing on the importance of holistic development, combining technical training with lessons in leadership and perseverance.
FIBA instructors Cheikh Sarr, Naoufal Uariachi, Joe Touomou, NBA legend Olumide Oyedeji and other coaches such as Christelle Ngarsanet, Robert Pack, Head Coach of Rwanda Energy Group (REG) and others including Jaclyn Delsardo, Irv Roland and Edneisha Curry focused on strategy and player creativity, inspiring participants to think critically and adapt on the court.
FIBA