U18 AfroBasket Preview Part 1
Part one of a two-part overview of the participating nations and prospects to watch in this year's FIBA U18 AfroBasket.
Directly on the heels of arguably the most impactful showing from an African team on the world stage, the continent is set to showcase its rising youth talent that are ready to make names for themselves at FIBA U18 AfroBasket.
Some teams are making history after decades away from competition. A few are looking to reclaim the winning thrones they once occupied. And others are aiming to confirm their position as a top African team. The end goal for all teams though, is a ticket to the 2025 U19 World Cup.
This edition of U18 AfroBasket features a relatively deep pool of talented prospects across all participating countries and spanning all positions. Some players play their club ball locally, while some are in high school or academies abroad, and still others have already broached the professional ranks. Regardless of current situations, there is a wealth of future NCAA and international professional potential.
Below you’ll find team previews, where we’ll also highlight some key players to watch from each country.
Angola
After underperforming expectations last summer in U16 AfroBasket, Angola is looking to make a statement in this tournament, despite slight controversy over player selection. They have been private about preparation plans but clearly spent a lot of time creating good team chemistry.
Aginaldo Neto
Basics: 6’1” Point Guard
Accolades: Longstanding player for NBA Academy Africa, senior national team reserve in 2025 AfroBasket qualifiers
Description: Lead guard who creates advantages with his quick first step, confident in-between game and an improved jumpshot and passing ability.
Celestino Augusto
Basics: 6’7” Power Forward
Accolades: 2024 Baskeball Without Borders participant, top statistical performer at 2023 U16 AfroBasket averaging 14 PPG, 12.6 RPG
Description: Long and mobile big man who can attack from outside in. Excels on the offensive glass, especially with putbacks.
Cameroon
After 16 years of absence, Cameroon has fielded a U18 team and made meaningful investments into their youth at the national team level. They hosted a recruitment camp in France before settling on the roster that traveled to Pretoria and saw success in various prep games. They boast local, international and NBA Academy players.
Amadou Seini
Basics: 7’0” Center
Accolades: Averaged 18.2 PPG between 43 total Serie C and U19 competitions with Varese Academy in Italy
Description: Seini routinely overpowers defenders with his sheer physical presence inside. His most translatable skill is his ball screens, as he works to find the right screening angle to get ball handlers open before rolling into space.
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Dan Scott Ejenguele
Basics: 6’5” Combo Guard
Accolades: MVP of gameday two in Cameroon’s championship
Description: Confident and lengthy scoring guard who excels as a secondary ball handler and spot-up shooter. He moves well and can heat up in a hurry, often knocking down several outside shots in a row. Has shown a competitive spirit, correcting older teammates on his local Firebirds team and demanding the ball in big moments.
Gregory Kemet Edoa
Basics: 6’3” Point Guard
Accolades: 2023 Cameroon U18 Championship MVP and Champion
Description: Edoa is a wiry, quick-twitch guard. He shows electric change of pace and athleticism paired with solid vision and a creative handle.
Hermann Bel
Basics: 6’7” Forward
Accolades: Member of Play2Lead and participated in NBA Academy Showcase in Senegal
Description: Very athletic defensive-minded forward who moves his feet well guarding perimeter players while also being a dependable help side rim protector.
Côte d'Ivoire
As one of the two best third-placed teams from AfroBasket qualifiers, Ivory Coast had a hard-fought, yet successful qualifying experience. The qualifiers taking place so close to the tournament added an extra layer of competition to the athletic team’s preparations.
Théo Chaney
Basics: 6’4” Combo Guard
Accolades: Member JA Vichy-Clermont’s U21 Espoirs team in France. Former member of the Swiss U16 national team
Description: Complete guard with length and physical tools to complement a poised approach and attacking style. Disrupts passing lanes and bothers ball handlers and attempted finishers on defense.
Alexandre Lomby
Basics: 6’5” Wing Forward
Accolades: Member SLUC Nancy’s U21 Espoirs team in France. Captain of the Ivoirian national team.
Description: An athletic forward who plays larger than his listed height. Capable of bullying defenders and posterizing them due to his length and strength.
Zié Cheick Condé
Basics: 6’6” Wing Forward
Accolades: Member of NBA Academy Africa
Description: Uses his athleticism to block shots at the rim. Loves to spin in the lane to get better finishing angles and is a capable shooter.
Egypt
Egypt is the reigning U18 champion and will be seeking their seventh AfroBasket title. They’ve retained a handful of players who played in this summer’s U17 World Cup and have few players who compete outside the country.
Ahmed Nedal Abouelela
Basics: 6’6” Wing
Accolades: Member of NBA Academy Africa and various other youth Egyptian national teams. BAL Elevate player for Bangui Sporting Club.
Description: A movement shooter who can get hot at a moment’s notice. Excels at shooting in stand-still spot up situations as well as coming off of screening actions.
Ali Assran
Basics: 6’9” Forward
Accolades: Member of NBA Academy Africa, Basketball Without Borders 2024 participant, U17 World Cup participant, U16 AfroBasket participant
Description: A connecting glue guy who can be used in many contexts. He makes connective reads, rebounds extremely well and finishes efficiently. Has a high motor that leads to elevated rebound and defensive numbers.
Mohamed Wael Shahin
Basics: 6’3” Point Guard
Accolades: Member of Al Ahly, Basketball Without Borders 2024 MVP and 3-point champion, U17 World Cup participant, U16 AfroBasket participant
Description: Tried and true shooter brimming with confidence who lets it fly off the dribble or catch. Is equally comfortable playing on and off the ball. Showed the ability to handle creatively in tight spaces all summer.
Omar Essam
Basics: 6’11” Center
Accolades: Member Al Ahly, Basketball Without Borders 2024 participant, U17 World Cup participant, U16 AfroBasket participant
Description: A long paint presence who excels at finishing through contact, putbacks and defensive activity. Has recently shown the ability to make outside shots at an efficient rate.
Mali
Mali retained five players from last year’s U16 AfroBasket team filling in remaining spots with quality players including two players who played in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament and one who saw minutes in FIBA Europe Cup. Quite the Spanish pipeline in Mali as many of their non-local guys play in Spain or the US. Big man duo Aly Tapo and Djafar Silimana recently played in the NBA Academy Games in Senegal representing Mountain Stars from Utah. Issa Fomba played Serie B Italy with Fulgor Omegna.
Youssouf Mamby Traoré
Basics: 6’10” Power Forward/Center
Accolades: Played ACB, EBA and FIBA Europe Cup with Casademont Zaragoza. MVP of Spains U18 championship averaging 21 PPG, 14.2 RPG
Description: Agile play finisher with good feet and patience down low. Possesses a high motor on the glass and can contain perimeter and post players defensively.
Amadou Traoré
Basics: 6’8” Center
Accolades: Member of Real Madrid’s junior team, competed in ANGT Podgorica and ANGT Finals
Description: Hard-working big man with terrific defensive instincts. Routinely brings energy on that side of the ball and in transition while staying active and mobile throughout.
Chectare Baradji
Basics: 6’1” Shooting Guard
Accolades: New player of CB Tres Cantos in Spain’s EBA, played for Paris Basket in ANGT Paris, U16 AfroBasket participant
Description: A lefty with a smooth stroke who is capable of getting hot at a moments notice. Scored 14 points in seven minutes in ANGT on mostly outside jump shots.
Ibrahim Oumar Doumbia
Basics: 6’1” Combo Guard
Accolades: Big contributor for Mali’s 2021 U16 AfroBasket and 2022 U17 World Cup teams, member of CD Venta de Banos in Spanish EBA
Description: Three-level scorer who thrives in space and has a quick first step. The combo guard can flip the switch between scoring and playmaking instantly.
Sidy Touré
Basics: 6’1” Combo Guard
Accolades: Mali’s top scorer at U16 AfroBasket as a local player: 14 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.6 APG
Description: Slasher who is a crafty finisher around the basket. Possesses a set shot but is capable of making them from deep.
South Africa
Despite a rocky lead up to hosting this year’s event, South Africa put things together in time to be able to showcase some of their ascending talent.
Tinyiko Makhubela
Basics: 6’1” Combo Guard
Accolades: Basketball Without Borders 2024 participant
Description: Defensively sound guard who can play on or off the ball. Lefty with smooth shooting mechanics.
Zambia
Participating in AfroBasket for the first time since 1989, Zambia qualified by convincingly defeating Zimbabwe twice in the qualifiers. The team has had financial struggles due to drought which have impacted scouting and travel but they were still able to play prep games against a Select team of former Zambian pros and other local clubs.
Frank Siame
Basics: 6’1” Combo Guard
Accolades: Zambia’s leading scorer during AfroBasket Qualifers
Description: A quick guard with a creative handle, instinctual decision-making and crafty touch around the rim.
U18 AfroBasket Preview Part 2
As we head into the early part of this year’s FIBA U18 AfroBasket, there are some interesting happenings to keep in mind. Teams such as Uganda have found new life, how will they compete against the traditional powers of African youth basketball? There has been an intense emphasis on sports development in Rwanda, how will the young men perform? Nigeria i…