Sierra Leone Under-16 Boys Basketball Team Returns Home After FIBA AfroBasket Tournament
Sia Lucy Kannah 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.
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.
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