Basketball in Africa

As the race began for the final for the 15th Under 18 (male) Fiba Africa championship billed for South African city of Durban from July 29 through August 6
get keener three countries have joined defending champion Nigeria and South Africa for the biggest youth competition in the slamming and dunking world.

The countries Libya, Guinea and Kenya book their passage to the continental championship without going through the rigour of qualification due to the withdrawal of their zonal opponents.

Libya who was billed to fight for Zone-1 sole ticket against Morocco got the permission to be in the final after Morocco withdrew from the qualifiers, Guinea got the zone-2 ticket on a plater of gold when the rest of the teams in the zone withdrew their participation while Kenya book its ticket from zone-5 for the finals.

2004 runner-up Angola alongside third placed Mali and fourth placed Algeria are the other countries that are already through to the finals.

The winner and runner-up of this year's edition will fly the continent flag at the Fiba World Championship next year.