Ahmedu Targets Stronger Grassroots Basketball Development, Regional Unity at FAZ3 Congress
Oru Leonard
The President of FIBA Africa Zone 3 (FAZ3), Col. Sam Ahmedu (Rtd), has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening grassroots basketball development, improving sports governance and promoting regional cooperation among member countries.
Ahmedu made this known ahead of the FAZ3 General Meeting/Congress scheduled for November 21, 2026, in Accra, Ghana, where basketball administrators and stakeholders from eight West African countries will converge to deliberate on the future of the sport in the sub-region.
The congress, billed to hold at Barima Apartments & Suites, will attract representatives from Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria and Togo.
Originally scheduled to take place alongside the FIBA Africa Zone 3 U-16 Boys and Girls Championship, the meeting will now provide a dedicated platform for member federations to address challenges confronting basketball development and formulate practical strategies for sustainable growth.
Speaking ahead of the gathering, Ahmedu described the congress as an important opportunity for basketball leaders across the zone to exchange ideas, strengthen institutional cooperation and establish a common development agenda.
He emphasised that sustainable basketball development requires more than talented players, stressing the importance of effective leadership, strong institutions, sound administration and unity among member federations.
According to him, the future of basketball in the region depends on strategic decisions and collective commitment, both on and off the court.
The congress will be held under the theme: “Charting the Future: Grassroots Development, Governance and Regional Synergy in Zone 3.”
Ahmedu explained that the deliberations would focus on identifying practical solutions to existing challenges rather than limiting discussions to theoretical issues.
He noted that every participating country would have the opportunity to share experiences, contribute ideas and identify actionable measures to advance the game across the region.
Beyond administrative and developmental issues, the Accra meeting is also expected to create opportunities for strategic partnerships involving development organisations, resource persons and potential investors.
Key areas of collaboration include basketball infrastructure development, promotion of 3×3 basketball, coaching and player development camps, training clinics and the organisation of regional club competitions.
Ahmedu expressed optimism that partnerships in these areas would help address infrastructural and institutional challenges while creating more competitive opportunities for players, coaches and clubs.
He also called on organisations and individuals interested in sports development to support the zone’s vision through investments, technical expertise and other relevant resources.
The FAZ3 president maintained that basketball development must be a collective responsibility, requiring cooperation among national federations, private investors, development partners and other stakeholders.
The November 21 congress is expected to strengthen cooperation among the eight member federations and produce actionable resolutions to guide the next phase of basketball development in West Africa.
The meeting represents another step towards building a more coordinated, inclusive and sustainable basketball development framework within FIBA Africa Zone 3.
(Media Committee, FIBA Africa Zone 3
November 15, 2026)
