The Sierra Leone Under-16 boys basketball team has safely returned home following their participation in the FIBA U16 AfroBasket Tournament held in Rwanda.

Competing in a group with Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, and Angola, Sierra Leone faced tough challenges and lost all three of their matches.

The first game against Côte d’Ivoire ended in a 112-27 defeat, attributed largely to jet lag from long travel and multiple layovers. The team showed noticeable improvement in subsequent matches, losing 65-47 against hosts Rwanda and narrowly falling to Angola in the final encounter.

Despite the defeats, the team returned home with pride, particularly thanks to standout player Benjamin Davis. The 15-year-old, standing 6ft 9inches, ranked among the top five performers in two of the three games, recording impressive stats including 22 rebounds against Rwanda.

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In recognition of his exceptional performance, Davis was awarded a one-year scholarship to the NBA Academy in Senegal. He left the squad with Sierra Leone Basketball Federation President Ali Hijaz for a tryout at the Academy.

President Hijaz praised the team’s efforts, stating, “We are making progress in a country where basketball is not yet prioritised. Our performance on the continental stage is a huge gain and demonstrates our commitment to changing the narrative. Success is a matter of time.”

The Sierra Leone Basketball Federation remains committed to developing young talent and improving the nation’s presence in regional and international basketball competitions.