Côte d’Ivoire is actively preparing to host the 29th edition of the Women’s Afrobasket, scheduled from July 26 to August 3, 2025. One month before the kickoff, the president of the Ivorian Basketball Federation (FIBB) and chairman of the organizing committee, Moussa Diarra, met with the press on Friday, June 27, at the Noom Hotel in Abidjan-Plateau to provide an update on the preparations for this major basketball event on the African continent.

Accompanied by Safiatou Traoré, head of the women’s national team, national coach Stéphane Leite, and his assistant Christelle N’garsanet, Moussa Diarra revealed progress made in organizing the tournament and shared the ambitions of the Éléphantes (Ivory Coast women’s team).

“The various halls of the Treichville Sports Palace namely the Dome, Hall 1, and the multipurpose hall are scheduled to be completed by July 20 and will meet international standards,” Moussa Diarra announced, thanking the Ivorian state, led by the President of the Republic, for their decisive support. He also assured that all logistical arrangements for the event—including accommodation for delegations, transport, security, and communication—have been carefully planned to ensure an exemplary Afrobasket.

On the sporting front, the Éléphantes are already battle-ready. Their first training camp began in Abidjan on May 29. The second phase of preparation will start on June 30 with a trip to Turkey for a series of four friendly matches, including two against Cameroon. The team is expected to return on July 10, before a final preparation phase in Côte d’Ivoire featuring three tune-up games.

The pachyderms’ goal is clear: to reach the podium. The coaching staff takes this challenge very seriously. “The work is intense, and the commitment total,” emphasized head coach Stéphane Leite.

Moussa Diarra made a strong appeal to the media to support national mobilization around this major continental event: “This Afrobasket is a showcase for Côte d’Ivoire. We count on you to unite the public.”

In addition to host Côte d’Ivoire, eleven other nations will participate in the competition: Nigeria (titleholder), Senegal (2023 runner-up), Mali, Cameroon, Uganda, Angola, Rwanda, Guinea, Egypt, Mozambique, and South Sudan.

This is the first time Côte d’Ivoire is hosting the Women’s Afrobasket. For sports authorities, this event is much more than a tournament: it is a symbol of the growth of Ivorian sport and an opportunity to promote women’s basketball across the continent.