Monrovia Hosts AWBL Zone 3 Qualifiers as MFM, First Bank Battle for Cairo Tickets
Oru Leonard
MONROVIA, Liberia — Six clubs, including Nigeria’s MFM Basketball Club and First Bank Basketball Club, will compete for two qualification tickets to the final rounds of the African Women’s Basketball League (AWBL) when 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 participating teams seeking to secure places in the continental finals scheduled for Cairo, Egypt, from December 11 to 19.
Liberia will field two teams, Flames Basketball Club and reigning national champions D’Rockers Basketball Club, while Côte d’Ivoire will be represented by Friends of Basketball Association (FBA), the defending FIBA Africa Zone 3 champions.
Energie Basketball Club of Cotonou will represent Benin Republic, completing the six-team lineup alongside the two Nigerian sides.
The Nigerian representatives will arrive in Monrovia with a fresh rivalry following MFM’s narrow 66–64 victory over First Bank in the final of the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League.
The keenly contested final, played before a packed arena at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, highlighted the competitive balance between the two clubs ahead of their continental assignment.
Both teams will now seek to reproduce their domestic performances on the continental stage, with qualification for the Cairo finals serving as their immediate target.
Their participation was secured after FIBA Africa and the Liberia Basketball Association (LBA) extended the registration deadline and adjusted the competition schedule following the late conclusion of Nigeria’s domestic league campaign.
The adjustment followed an intervention by FIBA Africa Zone 3 President, retired Colonel Sam Ahmedu, which enabled MFM and First Bank to register for the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, preparations for the tournament are progressing in Liberia, with organisers expressing confidence in their readiness to host a successful competition.
Calvin Diggs, president of Flames Basketball Club and Secretary-General of the LBA, said the organising committee and the association had intensified preparations to ensure a smooth event that meets international standards.
FIBA Africa Zone 3 Secretary, Joe Apu, also expressed confidence in Liberia’s capacity to host the competition, citing the experience gained by the country’s basketball community from organising several international events in recent years.
With the qualifiers approaching, the six participating clubs are expected to strengthen their preparations as they seek to secure one of the two available tickets to Cairo.
The competition will bring together the defending zonal champions from Côte d’Ivoire, two Nigerian rivals, an experienced Beninese side and two determined Liberian clubs, setting the stage for an intense battle for continental qualification.
The Cairo finals will feature the successful qualifiers as they join the race for the African Women’s Basketball League title.
The press release was signed by retired Colonel Sam Ahmedu, President of FIBA Africa Zone 3, on October 21, 2026.
