Your weekly dose of FIBA Africa Zone 7 News: The Comoran Basketball Federation (CBBF) is advancing youth development with initiatives like the first U16 championship, mobile 3x3 courts, and programs focused on training, gender equality, and nurturing future stars.
Last Updated on
March 19, 2025
A group of ten Comoran referees participated in an intensive four-day training course in February under the supervision of Mauritian expert Leslie Cherubin, who was sent by FIBA. Alternating between theory and practice, the session aimed to improve their skills and align the officials with international standards. At the end of the course, the participants obtained their Level 1 certification, an essential step in elevating Comoran refereeing to a higher level.
Djinti Ahamada, chairman of the Comorian Basketball Federation (CBBF), sees improving refereeing as a key issue. “The current level is average, but with training and investment, our referees can make rapid progress”, he stresses.
Since his arrival at the helm of the federation, he has intensified initiatives to add more structure Comoran basketball and whilst making up for lost time, over the past decade.
In addition to officiating, the CBBF is focusing on developing basketball at all levels, with projects aimed at enhancing youth, women’s, and school basketball. The introduction of a mobile 3x3 basketball court represents a significant step forward, enabling the sport to be democratized even in remote areas. All these efforts aim to strengthen basketball in the Comoros and to discover the island’s future stars.
The Comoran Basketball Federation is providing training to young people aged 8 to 14 in schools to broaden the sport's base and promote Olympic values. Launched in January in Moroni with the support of the FIBA Foundation, this project targets young girls as a priority, demonstrating a strong desire to promote gender equality in sport. “It’s aimed at young people under the age of 14, especially girls,” explains Mansouri Ibrahim, who is in charge of youth basketball and 3x3 development.
The program is a real breath of fresh air, aimed at diversifying inter-school tournaments, which are often dominated by the same players from local clubs.
“Through this project, we can hope to detect quality players who will form the country's basketball elite in the coming years,” enthuses project manager Laïth Bakar Kassim.
After Moroni, the initiative will extend to schools in Ngazidja, Mwali, and Ndzuani, offering more pupils the opportunity to discover a passion for basketball. A dozen coaches will train children twice a week in schools equipped with sports facilities.
A historic milestone was achieved by the Comoran Basketball Federation (CBBF), which organised its first U16 Championship. In Ngazidja, Djabal Basket from Ikoni claimed the title after an intense final against Espoir de Moroni (59–55) at the Hassane Soilih Stadium. This success has established them as a benchmark in this category, pending a potential national phase.
The inaugural edition featured six teams: Lunos from Mitsamiouli, Atomique from Ntsoudjini, Ims from Itsandra Mdjini, Papillon Bleu from Moroni, Djabal Basket from Ikoni, and Espoir from Moroni. Following a hard-fought group phase and semi-finals, Djabal emerged victorious in the final.
“The first edition of the U16 basketball championship was a real success”, says the FCBB.
Beyond the title, this competition marks a turning point in the development of youth basketball. Despite limited resources, the CBBF is forging ahead under the impetus of Ahamada Djinti, following the U16 team's participation in an international tournament in Madagascar last year. This initiative promotes the training and development of young talent, paving the way for new opportunities for Comoran basketball.
The IUM women's team again dominated the Smatchin inter-university tournament, defeating ESSCA 52–44 in the final. In the men's tournament, ESSCA overcame ACEEM 74–69 in a thrilling game, with Rino and Yoh contributing 25 and 17 points to the winning cause, respectively. Smatchin, a true celebration of university basketball in Madagascar, attracts more students every year. This year's event brought together 48 men's teams and 17 women's teams, with a lively week of competition.
Beyond basketball, the event was enriched by a variety of activities, thanks to Team Smatchin and the FIBA Africa Zone 7 Youth Commission. Participants enjoyed a Miss and Mister contest, a dance contest, a poetry slam, a DJ contest, and even an eSport tournament on NBA 2K25. This explosive mix of sport and culture confirms Smatchin's growing success.
After more than a year of anticipation, the highly anticipated Super League 2024-25 is finally set to kick off in April, marking the end of a long wait for the clubs. Matches will be played at the Phoenix Gymnasium.
This eagerly awaited return follows the thrilling Christmas Tournament, championed by the Mahebourg Flippers, which helped the teams get back into the swing of things. While the late launch of the championship has caused some frustration, the Mauritius Basketball Federation (MBBF) explains the delay as due to regulatory adjustments aimed at protecting players.
"We've been working on some amendments to prevent a repeat of the dramatic 2022 incident," says MBBF chairperson Stéphanie Soubanse-Hon Pin, regarding an unfortunate incident in 2022 when a player tragically lost his life during a Super League game.
The men’s Super League will feature ten teams, while the women’s championship will include four. The men’s winner will earn a ticket to the Road to BAL 2026, paving the way for an exciting journey to the global stage. The competition promises to be intense and thrilling, with 13 clubs in Division 1 and three relegations to Division 2.
The Mauritius Basketball Federation (MBBF) is already planning for the next season and considering measures to boost women’s basketball, including requiring clubs to field women’s teams.
[Photo/Imagery : Comorian Basketball Federation, Kristina Rakotobe Facebook page, Smatchin Facebook page, Le Mauricien Ltd]
