Africell Sierra Leone has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment and national development by sponsoring the country’s U16 basketball team ahead of their participation in the prestigious FIBA U16 AfroBasket 2025 Tournament in Kigali, Rwanda.

The continental competition, scheduled from September 2nd to 14th, 2025, will feature twelve teams battling for supremacy, with the two finalists securing qualification to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2026 in Türkiye.

President of the Sierra Leone Basketball Federation, Ali Hijazi, hailed Africell’s intervention, noting that the company matched funds raised during a nationwide campaign to guarantee the team’s participation.


“From the very beginning, Africell has been a reliable partner, providing equipment, financial resources, and now ensuring these young athletes have the chance to showcase their talent on the continental stage. Their support is inspiring not just for the players but for Sierra Leone as a whole,” Ali Hijazi emphasized.

Africell’s Media Relations Manager, Abdul Karim Sesay, underscored the company’s broader vision for sports development under its corporate social responsibility initiatives.

“Supporting sports is not only about competition. It is about motivation, patriotism, and hope. For these boys, basketball represents an opportunity to dream bigger and build a future,” Abdul Karim Sesay said.

The U16 team enters the tournament with confidence, having recently clinched gold at the qualifiers in Guinea. Their success has fueled national pride, with fans eager to see the green, white and blue fly high once again on the continental stage.

Africell’s partnership with the Sierra Leone Basketball Federation demonstrates how strategic corporate investment can nurture young talent, strengthen communities and lay the foundation for sustainable sports growth in the country. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/africell-sponsors-sierra-leones-u16-basketball-team-for-fiba-afrobasket-2025/