Rwanda’s U18 boys’ and girls’ basketball teams have returned to Kigali after competing in the FIBA Africa Zone 5 qualifiers in Cairo, Egypt, where they were chasing qualification for the 2026 FIBA U18 African Championship in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The teams arrived at Kigali International Airport in Kanombe on Thursday, July 30, with the boys’ side returning as Zone 5 champions, while the girls’ team came home with a bronze medal after finishing third.
The boys’ team secured qualification for the continental tournament following a strong campaign in a highly competitive Zone 5 event that featured six teams.
Speaking after the team’s arrival, Rwanda U18 boys’ head coach Niyomugabo Munyandamutsa Sunny described the competition as challenging but said teamwork and confidence among players played a key role in their success.
He highlighted unity within the squad and the players’ belief in their abilities as some of the factors that helped Rwanda achieve the regional triumph.
For the girls’ team, head coach Munyaneza Joseline said limited preparation time affected their campaign and contributed to their failure to secure a ticket to the African championship.
She explained that some players missed part of the preparations because they were sitting national examinations and only joined the team after completing their tests.
The Rwanda U18 boys’ team will now turn their attention to the 2026 FIBA U18 African Championship, which will be held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from August 5 to 16, 2026.
