Women's AfroBasket 2025: a historic first for Ivory Coast
A framework agreement and a confirmation letter have been signed, making Ivory Coast the official host of the 2025 Women's AfroBasket
Sport News Africa · Author profile ·
Listen to this story
Audio version in preparation · read aloud by your browser meanwhile
Ivory Coast have been officially named hosts of the 27th Women's AfroBasket, scheduled for 25 July to 3 August 2025. The framework agreement confirming the decision was signed on 17 January 2024 in Abidjan by the Ivorian Ministry of Sports, FIBA Africa and the Ivorian Basketball Federation (FIBB).
Pulling off another successful tournament
With the 2025 Women's AfroBasket, Ivory Coast will host this major continental competition for the first time. At the ceremony, Dr. Alphonse Bilé, secretary general of FIBA Africa, expressed confidence in his country's ability to rise to the challenge. "We want this competition to become a benchmark. African women's basketball has great potential and this edition will be different, better organised," he said.
Read also: Basketball: the major events of 2025 for Africa
To live up to that ambition, the Ivorian authorities have pledged to make the event a success. Adjé Silas Metch, deputy minister for Sports, underlined the strategic importance of the event for Ivory Coast: "We will put in place every condition needed to guarantee a flawless organisation. Ivory Coast can no longer afford to take a step back on the continental sporting stage."
Momentum confirmed after the 2023 AFCON
The FIBB, led by president Moussa Diarra, has already begun preparations to build a national team able to compete with the best nations. "We have identified our players in Ivory Coast, Europe and the United States. A first meeting with the European group is planned for 9 February in Paris. The aim is clear: to bring back a medal," he said.
The finals of the 2025 Women's AfroBasket will be played at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan. Already qualified are top-level sides including Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Rwanda, Cameroon and Ivory Coast, who will battle for the continental title.
Having hosted the 2023 AFCON as well as the Maracana World Cup, Ivory Coast are confirming their appeal as a venue for major sporting competitions. Staging the 2025 Women's AfroBasket is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country's standing as a sporting reference point in Africa.
The event will be an important test for African women's basketball and a chance for Ivory Coast to shine both on the court and as organisers.