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Introduced in Africa during the middle of the 20th century by missionaries and colonial administration, Basketball is today the second most popular sport on the continent.

As the number of people practicing the game increased on the eve of the independence of African countries, and in order to coordinate the efforts of various emerging federations which promote this game, it appeared necessary to unify the rules and to launch continental competitions.

The managers of the first African National Federations expressed their desire of integrating FIBA, the world basketball governing body. 

At FIBA’s sixth Congress held on the 30 and 31 August 1960 in Rome, Italy, the Egyptian Basketball Federation was allowed to organise a General Assembly in order to set an institution to rule African Basketball.

Thus, under the aegis of FIBA and at the invitation of the Egyptian Basketball Federation, twelve African countries held a Constitutive General Assembly on 11-14 June in Cairo, Egypt. 

This Assembly created the "Association des Fédérations Africaines de Basketball" (AFABA). 

                           

This first General Assembly was supervised by former FIBA Secretary General, Dr. William Jones, Mr. Abdelmoneim Wahby, Vice-president for Africa, Mr. Abdelazim Ashry, member of the International Technical Committee and Ms. Ursula Frank, FIBA Administrative Secretary.

Participants of this Assembly included representatives of Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Morocco, Libya, North Rhodesia, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Togo.

Mr. Abdelmoneim Wahby was elected president and Mr. Azer Ishak became Secretary General.

Back in 2002, AFABA became FIBA Africa with an overall positive outcome.

With 12 countries at its creation, FIBA Africa includes to date 54 country members which are regularly taking part in the competitions as well as in promotional basketball activities and meetings.

The institution has acquired significant results thanks to the inspiration of the founding fathers as well as the foresight and the dynamism of the acting managers, who initiated the modernization and the professionalization of the institution since 2001.

Modernisation and professionalisation

Back in 1995, at the Congress held in Algiers in margin of the African Nations Championship, the rulers of AFABA took the opportunity to revise the regulation into effect since 1961.

At the Congress held in August 2001 in Casablanca, Morocco, Alphonse Bile was elected Secretary General of the AFABA and set as target the development of the institution and the promotion of basketball.

Three four-year development plans (2002-2006, 2006-2010, and 2010-2014) were set in order to strengthen the bodies, professionalise the administration, improve the communication and increase the number and the quality of competitions. These also include training and equipment being provided to National Member Federations.

FIBA Africa and the fight against AIDS

In addition to their festive character, FIBA Africa competitions also serve as frame to prevent social banes such HIV AIDS.

The Campaign "Protect the Basket" organised in collaboration with UNAIDS during AfroBasket 2013 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire was a great success.

KEY FACTS
  • The Congresses
    • The first historic and inaugural Congress held in 1961 that founded the Organisation;
    • The second Congress held in 1965 (Tunisia) concluded by the approval of the Statutes and Unified Rules of Competitions;
    • The twelveth Congress held in 1997 (Senegal), just after the death of Abdelazim ASHRY, the Secretary General who led the AFABA for thirty years. This Congress elected Dr Hamouda Yousri as secretary General;
    • The Extraordinary Congress of 1998 held in Morocco ended by the election of Alain Ekra as new president in replacement of Seye Moreau, who was elected as President of FIBA;
    • The thirteen Congress held in August 2011 (Morocco) elected Alphonse Bile as Secretary general.
    The founding fathers

    M. Abdelmoneim Wahby, Vice-president for Africa,
    M. Abdelazim Ashry, Member of International Technical Committee
    M. Azer Ishak (Egypt)
    Jean Guigma (Burkina Faso),
    Yonokatcheou Tessema (Ethiopia),
    Tomy Thompson (Ghana),
    Richard Turpin (Guinea),
    Gaoussou Keïta(Mali),
    Boujemaa Jdaini Larguet (Morocco),
    Aly El Fitouri (Libya),
    Ronald Joseph Boyle (North Rhodesia),
    Zein El Abdine Basma (Sierra Leone),
    Mohamed Taha Ismail (Sudan)
    Assah Elliott (Togo).

    FIBA’s Representatives to 1961 Congress

    Dr. William Jones, acting Secretary General of FIBA,
    Mlle Ursula Frank, Administrative Secretary of FIBA

    Presidents of AFABA

    Abdelmoneim Wahby (1965 - 1968)
    Lamine Keita (1968 - 1976)
    Moctar Guene (1976 - 1989)
    François Pehoua (1989 - 1993)
    Abdoulaye Sèye (1993 - 1998)
    Alain Ekra (1998 - 2010)
    Mabusa Eseka (2010 - 2014)
    Hamane Niang (Since 2014)

    Secretaries General

    Azer Ishak (1961-1965)
    Abdelazim Ashry (1965 - 1997)
    Hammouda Yousri (1997 - 2002)
    Alphonse Bilé (Since 2002)

  • August 1936 - First appearance of an African team - Egypt - at the Olympic Games Tournament for Men

    October 1950 - First appearance of an African team - Egypt - at the World Championship Men

    June 1961 - Creation of Association des Fédérations Africaines de Basketball Amateur (AFABA)

    March 1962 - First African Nations’ Championship

    April 1966 - First African Nations’ Championship Women

    May 1971 - First appearance of an African team (Madagascar) at World Championship for Women

    ? 1971 - First African Champions Cup

    September 1974 - First Africa U18 Championship

    March 1985 - First Africa Champions Cup for Women

    June 1985 - First Africa U18 Championship for Women

    September 1992 - First Africa U22 Championship

    July 1996 ??- First appearance of an African team (Zaire, now D.R. of Congo) at the Olympic Games 

    1998 - Abdoulaye Seye Moreau is elected FIBA President for the 1999-2002 term of office

    October 2000 - First Africa U20 Championship

    March 2001 - Alphonse Bile is elected Secretary General

    2002 - AFABA become FIBA Africa

    July 2001 - First appearance of an African team (Mali) at FIBA U19 World Championship for Women

    December 2002 - First Africa U20 Championship Girls

    July 2003 - First appearance of an African team (Nigeria) at FIBA U19 World Championship

    August 2009 - First Africa U16 Championship for Women

    September 2009 - First Africa U16 Championship

    July 2010 - First appearance of an African team - Egypt - at the FIBA U17 World Championship

    July 2010 - First appearance of an African team - Mali - at FIBA U17 World Championship for Women

    August 2014 - Hamane Niang became the eighth President of FIBA Africa

  • Find Below the videos related to the Golden Jubily of FIBA Africa, celebrated on 14 june 2011.