Published: October 30, 2026
PAYNESVILLE — Flames Basketball Club has stepped in to host the 2026 FIBA Africa Zone 3 Women’s Basketball Qualifiers after the Liberia Basketball Association said mounting debts and a lack of funding had left it unable to organize the regional tournament.
The Liberia Basketball Association Women’s League runners-up have assumed full responsibility for organizing the competition, including transportation, accommodation, meals, and logistics for the FIBA technical team, as well as ticketing and gymnasium management.
The competition was left without a host after the LBA said it could not meet the financial demands of organizing the event.
At the tournament’s official launch in Sinkor, LBA Vice President for Administration Yanquoi Borsay said the national federation could not host the event because of outstanding debts to local vendors, hotels, and other service providers from previous competitions.
Borsay said the financial challenges have also affected the federation’s efforts to support Liberia’s youth national teams participating in international competitions.
“We are grateful to Flames for coming in our defense to host the qualifiers. We are in debt everywhere, and vendors couldn’t agree to lend us support,” Borsay said.
The tournament is scheduled for Nov. 4-8 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Basketball Gymnasium in Paynesville.
According to local organizing committee Chairperson Hannah Daye, the tournament has a projected budget of $60,000. The funds are expected to cover team accommodation and meals, air travel, and allowances for referees and other officials.
Flames Basketball Club President Fenny Taylor Diggs said the club was proud to step in and keep the competition in Liberia, despite the financial and logistical challenges of hosting the event independently.
Diggs expressed optimism that the tournament would succeed, describing the initiative as an investment in basketball and young athletes’ development.
Madam Diggs is therefore appealing to corporate institutions, government officials, and business owners for financial and logistical support to help cover the tournament’s expenses.
According to her, hosting the qualifiers would give Liberia an opportunity to showcase itself internationally, support youth development, and protect its reputation as a host of regional sporting events.
Confirmed participants include Énergies Basketball of Benin, Friends Basketball Association of Côte d’Ivoire, and Liberia’s D-Rockas Basketball Club and Flames Basketball Club.
Two teams from Nigeria, Mountain of Fire Basketball Cluband First Bank, are also expected to participate.
The top two teams from the Zone 3 qualifiers will advance to the competition’s final round.
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