THE FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup are fast approaching, with two African nations preparing to take on the world’s best young talent. Taking place in Istanbul, Türkiye (June 27–July 5), the tournament will allow Africa’s rising stars to test themselves against some of basketball’s most established nations.
The Big Tip Off writer, Sandisiwe Msibi, takes a closer look at each African team heading to the global showpiece, highlighting their qualification journey and the expectations surrounding each contingent ahead of the tournament.
Men’s Tournament: Istanbul, Türkiye
Côte d’Ivoire — Group D
Côte d’Ivoire’s U17 World Cup debut has been one of African basketball’s standout stories. The Elephants captured their maiden FIBA U16 AfroBasket title in Kigali, Rwanda, in September 2025, defeating Cameroon 62–49 in the final to crown a new continental champion.
The achievement marked a dramatic turnaround for a nation that had never progressed beyond the quarter-finals in previous U16 AfroBasket appearances.
The defining moment came in the semi-finals, where Côte d’Ivoire defeated Egypt 75–58, ending the North African’s long-standing dominance and preventing the five-time champions from reaching the final for the second time in tournament history.
Their World Cup debut, however, comes with a stern test. Côte d’Ivoire has been drawn into Group D alongside Venezuela, Australia and Serbia, three nations with deep basketball traditions and significant international experience.
A top finish in the group may be unlikely, but simply competing at this level represents a major step forward for a program experiencing unprecedented growth.
Players to watch
Jean-Philippe Oka was the standout figure during the AfroBasket U16 tournament and deservedly walked away with MVP honours. The forward averaged 16.5 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Alongside him, Irené Ouédraogo established himself as one of the tournament’s most dominant interior players. His 20 rebounds in the final highlighted Côte d’Ivoire’s physical identity and their ability to control games inside the paint.
Cameroon — Group B
Few teams arrive at the U17 World Cup with a story as remarkable as Cameroon’s. The Central Africans made their debut at the U16 AfroBasket in 2025 and immediately shocked the continent by advancing to the final.
Along the way, they defeated Mali in the semi-finals before eventually falling to Côte d’Ivoire in the final. Their rise has been rapid. In 2025, Cameroon also made their first appearance at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
Like Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon are debuting at the U17 World Cup. Cameroon now faces another major challenge in Istanbul after being placed in Group B alongside Canada, Lithuania, and China. These are experienced nations that have competed multiple times.
Players to watch
Point guard Nolan Ngangmeni emerged as one of the team’s key leaders during the qualifying round, particularly after his outstanding performance against Mali in the semi-finals, where he scored 23 points. He finished second in the tournament for total points scored with 98.
Felix Deumi also played an important role in Cameroon’s backcourt, helping provide pace, control and composure during crucial moments.
While Cameroon’s sudden rise signals the emergence of another potential basketball force on the continent, for these young players and their national programs, Istanbul represent another important step in Africa’s growing presence within global basketball.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter for all the latest feature stories and previews of events on the African continent.
