FIBA Africa Central Board holds productive meeting in Abidjan

The Board of FIBA Africa held its annual meeting in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire on Monday and Tuesday (March 27-28), during which time it reviewed the activities that took place in 2016 and approved programs for 2017.

The Board also provided guidance with regards to the challenges of developing competitions, devising training programs as well as restructuring national federations.

Wide-ranging discussions took place and key decisions were made over the course of the two days.

Continental Competitions

The Board:

- Recommended a number of initiatives to be implemented in the coming days for a better organisation of FIBA AfroBasket 2017 in the Republic of Congo;

- Gave the green light to the Executive Committee of FIBA Africa to allocate the wild cards for FIBA AfroBasket 2017;

- Launched an urgent appeal to the national teams that have achieved qualification for the Final Round of FIBA AfroBasket 2017 and those who will qualify in the coming days to register on FIBA's platform dedicated to the African Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019;

- Indicated that a rethink is needed in order to have a better balance of the number of places on offer per group for the continental competitions including the FIBA AfroBasket, FIBA Women's AfroBasket, FIBA Africa Champions Cup, FIBA Africa Champions Cup and the Youth competitions;

- Issued a mandate to FIBA Africa Zone 2 for the organisation of qualifiers for youths and clubs competitions;

- Recommended to all Sub-Zone Presidents that they should organise workshops on the FIBA's New Competition System for their National Federations members, which should take place alongside FIBA Africa's Mid-term Congress taking place in Bamako, Mali on April 20-21.

The Board praised the excitement and interest around the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Qualifiers, particularly in Zone 2, and recommended that all necessary measures be taken in order to achieve a better coverage of the continental competitions in the future.

Development and promotion of 3x3

FIBA Africa's National Federations have been encouraged to become more involved in the promotion of 3x3, by signing up and participating in the discipline's planned competitions on the continent in 2017.

The Board announced the creation of a 3x3 national team tournament for U18 men's and women's national teams. The winners will receive a trophy that will bear the name of the late Salamatou Maiga.

Support for National Federations Development

The Board:

- Invited the Sub-Zones and National Federations to get involved in the distribution of materials and equipment;

- Instructed the National Federations Commission to help Federations identify five of their developmental priorities;

- Urged FIBA Africa's coaches and referees instructors to become more involved in the organisation of training in their respective National Federations.

Finally, the Board:

- Instructed the FIBA Africa office in Cairo to follow the implementation of the Egyptian authorities' commitments. These commitments are related to the increase of the subsidy allocated to this office and the provision of an academy of trainers;

- Invited the Zone presidents and other FIBA Africa Board Members to urge National Federations to turn out in large numbers at next month's FIBA Africa Mid-Term Congress.