Published: July 6, 2026
MONROVIA — Liberia’s men’s and women’s under-18 national basketball teams have been forced to withdraw from the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket Zone 3 Qualifiers in Burkina Faso after government funding for the trip failed to materialize.
The withdrawal is a major setback for the country’s youth basketball program, denying young players an opportunity to gain international experience and compete for a place at the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket Championship.
The Liberia Basketball Association (LBA) had made efforts to secure the teams’ participation by submitting its travel budget to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which forwarded the request to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for approval. However, the funds were not released before the tournament began.
The Liberian delegation, comprising players, coaches, administrators and media personnel, had been scheduled to depart for Ouagadougou ahead of the competition, which tipped off Saturday, July 4.
“We communicated the budget for the trip to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and it is now before the Ministry of Finance for approval,” LBA National League Board Chairman James Emmanuel Potter said before the withdrawal. “If we receive the funds on Thursday or Friday, the team will travel. If not, we will notify FIBA of our withdrawal.”
Despite the uncertainty, the LBA had announced a 13-player squad for the men’s tournament.
The roster included nine players from Liberia’s U16 national team, with four set to make their international debuts.
Head coach Gaye Tuanzama was to lead the team, assisted by Edwin Nus Subah Jr. Teddy Bangura was named team trainer, while Martin K. Adu was appointed team manager.
Liberia had been drawn alongside host Burkina Faso, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana in the Zone 3 qualifiers, which runs through July 17 at Ouaga Sports Palace 2000. The tournament champion will earn the region’s lone berth at the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket Championship, scheduled for Aug. 3-16.
The withdrawal marks another missed opportunity for Liberia’s youth basketball program to compete on the continental stage and gain valuable international exposure.
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