Botswana Hosts FIBA 3×3 Nations League – African South Conference

Sunday Standard

Botswana Hosts FIBA 3×3 Nations League – African South Conference

Botswana is preparing to host an official FIBA 3×3 Nations League- Africa South Conference in Gaborone, an event Botswana Basketball Association (BBA) is hailing as a milestone for the sport in the country.

BBA Public Relations Officer (PRO) Abaleng Lesego says the event is way more than just a week of competition. “Hosting an official FIBA 3×3 Nations League in Botswana is a monumental milestone. The tournament signals the country’s ambition to climb from its current ranking of 15th in Africa into the continent’s top 10.”

The competition also feeds directly into a bigger goal by keeping Botswana on the pathway toward LA 2028 Olympic qualification. Hosting on home soil means the country’s Under 23 national team will get the chance to test itself against African rivals without leaving Gaborone.

Players on elite scholarships abroad, including those based in Australia will return to represent Botswana at the tournament. Among the countries they will face are established 5-on-5 heavyweights Algeria, Angola, and Egypt.

These countries are expected to help gauge how the countries’ best youngsters, who will be underdogs at most, fare against the best in the continent. “We respect the pedigree of basketball giants like Egypt, Algeria, and Angola in 5-on-5 basketball, however, our expectation is to compete fiercely, protect our home court, and show no fear especially in 3×3, where we feel we are one of the best in Africa.”

Lesego says Team Botswana wants to push for podium finishes and demonstrate that it is closing the gap with the continent’s powerhouses. The local team’s preparations began in April. In the past two weeks, the team brought in international experts Richard Billiant from France and Angelo Tsagarakis from Greece to work with the team.

Getting ready for 3×3 basketball has meant a deliberate shift away from traditional 5-on-5 thinking. The technical staff has prioritized conditioning and fast transition play to cope with the format’s relentless pace. 

The team has also sharpened its defensive versatility and outside shooting. This area carries an extra weight in 3×3 since shots from distance are worth two points and can shift a game’s momentum instantly. High intensity training camps have been used to prepare players to hold their tactical discipline, even when fatigue sets in. 

According to the BBA PRO, these will be high stakes games. The top teams will earn automatic qualification to the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup later this year, and every match result will affect Botswana’s standing in the FIBA 3×3 Federation Rankings. These are the points that shape the country’s eligibility and seeding for future World Cups, Continental Cups, and its broader path toward Olympic qualification.

“Staging an international tournament of this scale comes with significant financial and logistical demands, covering FIBA compliance fees, court installation, team accommodation, and medical protocols. Final operational costs are still being audited, but the spending as an investment in the long-term development of basketball in Botswana,” Lesego said.

She acknowledged the backing of the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture (MYSC) and the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), alongside global FIBA stakeholders. Local corporate sponsors are expected to be unveiled soon, and the Royal Aria Convention Centre has partnered as the tournament’s venue. The tournament will take place from 20-25 July,2026.

The post Botswana Hosts FIBA 3×3 Nations League – African South Conference first appeared on Sunday Standard and is written by Oratile Otsetswe