By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Six clubs, including Nigeria’s MFM Basketball Club and First Bank Basketball Club, will compete for two tickets to the final rounds of the African Women’s Basketball League (AWBL) as the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers hold in Monrovia, Liberia, from November 2 to 9, 2026.
The competition will take place at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Indoor Gymnasium in Paynesville, with the successful teams advancing to the continental finals scheduled for Cairo, Egypt, from December 11 to 19.
According to a statement signed by the President of FIBA Africa Zone 3, Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd.), the six-team competition will feature two clubs from Liberia, Flames Basketball Club and reigning national champions D’Rockers Basketball Club.
Others are Friends of Basketball Association (FBA) of Côte d’Ivoire, the defending Zone 3 champions, and Energie Basketball Club of Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Nigeria’s representatives, MFM and First Bank, will be seeking to translate their domestic performances into continental success as they battle for qualification.
MFM goes into the competition with a psychological advantage after defeating First Bank 66–64 in the final of the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium.
The closely contested final highlighted the rivalry between the two Nigerian clubs, whose encounter in Monrovia is expected to be another keenly fought contest.
The statement noted that both Nigerian teams secured their places in the qualifiers following an extension of the registration deadline and an adjustment of the competition schedule by FIBA Africa and the Liberia Basketball Association (LBA).
The decision followed an intervention by Ahmedu, which enabled the clubs to participate after the late conclusion of their domestic league campaign.
Meanwhile, preparations for the competition are gathering momentum in Liberia, with Flames Basketball Club President and LBA Secretary-General, Calvin Diggs, expressing confidence in the country’s readiness to host a successful tournament.
Diggs said the organizing committee and the LBA had intensified preparations to ensure the event meets international standards.
Similarly, FIBA Africa Zone 3 Secretary, Joe Apu, expressed confidence in Liberia’s capacity to host the competition, citing the experience gained by the country’s basketball community from organizing several international events in recent years.
With the six clubs strengthening their preparations, the immediate objective is to finish among the top two teams and secure qualification for the AWBL finals in Egypt.
The Monrovia qualifiers are expected to provide a stern test for the participating clubs as they compete for the opportunity to challenge for continental honours.
