FIBA Africa Zone 6 Weekly Review: 21/03/2025

FIBA Africa Zone 6 Weekly Review: 21/03/2025

Mozambique

After a narrow defeat to Angola in the second leg of the qualifiers, Mozambique's hopes of securing a spot at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2025 in Abidjan were dashed. However, the team has since been granted a wild card entry. Many will argue Mozambique deserved qualification regardless, given that Angola was the only nation from Zone 6 to qualify automatically.

Mozambique has re-emerged as a continental powerhouse in recent years, attracting top talent to its domestic league. Ferroviário da Beira represented the nation in the NBA-operated Basketball Africa League (BAL), while last year, Ferroviário de Maputo made history by clinching the 2024 Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) title — their third continental crown since 2018.

Several key players from Ferroviário de Maputo also suit up for the national team, including Ingvild Mucauro, Silvia Veloso, Anabela Cossa, Stefânia Chiziane, and Carla Covane. Together, they will be determined to prove why Mozambique deserves direct qualification.

Veteran coach Nasir Salé will once again lead the squad into battle. The AfroBasket 2025 is scheduled for July in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, where Africa's top basketball talent will be on full display, proudly representing their nations.

South Africa

South African league champions and Basketball Africa League (BAL) debutants, MBB Basketball, have intensified their preparations for the upcoming season. Although they are the newcomers on the continental stage, MBB has been linked to several talented African players — particularly some domestic stars who have already made their mark in the BAL. Names like Nkosinathi Sibanyoni, Pieter Prinsloo, and Samkelo Cele are among those linked to the team. However, it remains unclear whether Cele, currently playing for Spanish club Real Valladolid Baloncesto in the Primera FEB — Spain's second division below the Liga ACB — will feature for MBB this season.

The biggest question on everyone's mind: who will suit up for MBB in their debut BAL campaign? While the club has yet to officially announce its final roster for the BAL, rumours continue to swirl — particularly after Sibanyoni, the BAL's single-game rebounding record holder, was recently spotted back in South Africa following a successful stint with Urunani BBC in Burundi. One certainty, however, is the leadership of head coach and NBA veteran Sam Vincent. His arrival in Johannesburg is imminent, and all eyes will be on him as he takes the helm.

The debutants remain dominant on the local scene — competing in the Chairman's Cup and ICSL, where they remain unbeaten and continue to win games convincingly. Next month, they'll gain valuable international exposure at The Vale Tournament, where they'll face off against teams including Bravehearts (Malawi) — the same side MBB defeated at last year's BAL qualifiers in Kenya. With two months of preparation remaining, MBB Basketball is focused on fine-tuning their roster and chemistry before making their BAL debut in the Nile Conference, scheduled for 17–25 May in Kigali, Rwanda.

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[Imagery and Photography Courtesy of FIBA]