Zambia’s under 16 basketball teams to miss Junior Africa Cup Finals

The Zambia Basketball Federation (ZBF) has announced that it is unable to send the Under 16 Boys and Girls to Tunisia for the Junior Africa Cup Finals.

The Federation could not confirm participation on deadline day due to non-availability of funds at the time, according to Federation Director Media and Marketing, Danny Mwikisa.

Mwikisa confirmed this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday.

He said ZBF, however, asked for an extension, which unfortunately was not granted by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

“The Zambia junior national teams were awarded a wild card entry into the finals by FIBA in June 2023, after finishing runners-up during the Africa Union Sports Council Region V under 20 games held in Lilongwe, Malawi last December, leaving the Federation with a short period to make adequate preparations,” Mwikisa said.

He said the Junior Africa Cup Finals, running from July 13, to July 23, 2023 in the city of Monastir in Tunisia, will also serve as qualifiers for the 2024 FIBA under 17 World Cup.

Mwikisa thanked government and several stakeholders including the media for coming on board to support the teams.

“The ZBF President, Maziko Phiri, said timing was an issue and it was unfortunate that the teams did not travel after securing funding at the end,” he said.

Mwikisa said the Federation continues its commitment to increase youth development programmes in line with its Strategic Plan (2023-2026).

“We aim to introduce Youth National Championships and establish community basketball hubsites to drive National Talent Identification and support participation in the National Youth Sports Festivals,” Mwikisa said.

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