The road to FIBA’s regional esports tournament has taken an exciting turn, as the African Pre-Qualifiers came to a close with fierce competition and thrilling action on the virtual basketball court. A total of 17 national federations were originally scheduled to represent Africa in this prestigious tournament, but after several dropouts, only 10 remained to battle it out for a spot in the Regional Qualifiers.
The participating nations were set to compete across three groups for a chance to move closer to the eFIBA regional finals. The pre-qualifiers saw countries like Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, and Tunisia enter the fray. However, Madagascar, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Liberia, and Guinea were forced to withdraw from the tournament, reducing the number of active teams to 10.
Group Stage Recap
Each remaining nation competed in their respective groups, resulting in some spectacular performances.
- Group 1:
The Egyptian national team showcased their dominance by leading the group with 10 points. Close behind was Côte d’Ivoire with 9 points, followed by Tunisia, who secured 8 points, fighting hard to stay in contention. - Group 2:
In a group that saw just two teams remain active, Algeria finished on top with 10 points, while Benin closely followed with 9 points. Despite the fewer teams, the competition was intense as both teams advanced. - Group 3:
Defending African eFIBA champions, Morocco, led Group 3 with 8 points. They were closely followed by Nigeria, who finished with 7 points, and Angola and Togo, who ended with 6 and 5 points respectively.
Advancing to Regional Qualifiers
The top two teams from each group advanced into two final groups for the Regional Qualifiers, forming two competitive clusters:
- Group 1: Egypt, Algeria, and Nigeria
- Group 2: Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin
The stakes are high as only the top two teams from each group will proceed to the Regional Finals, where they will compete in the semi-finals. The victors of these crucial matches will move forward to represent Africa in the ultimate regional showdown.
Looking Ahead
As we approach the next stage of the tournament, the anticipation continues to build. Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin have proven their skill and determination so far, but only four will move on to the finals. The path to becoming Africa’s eFIBA champion will test each team’s strategy, skill, and ability to thrive under pressure.
Africa’s esports scene is growing rapidly, and eFIBA is another great example of the continent’s rise in the global esports landscape. Stay tuned as we follow the remaining teams in their quest for regional glory and a shot at becoming Africa’s top eFIBA nation.
