Sports

World Cup qualifiers: Basketball Lions camping in Douala ahead of window two.

by Dewah Fabrice Teh
23 Jun 2026 22:38
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The Basketball Lions have begun training at the Japoma Stadium in Douala. This is in the buildup to the team’s participation in the forthcoming window two of the African regional qualifiers to the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
The team kickstarted the two-week long camping over the weekend under the coordination of head coach Alfred Aboya.

The gathering is assembling the 16 players who were earlier this month, named in the selection’s preliminary roster for the four-team tournament which will be held in Douala early next month.

Prominent among the contingent is BEAC of Yaounde star, James Fondong who is making his first appearance in the Basketball Lions den, and former FAP of Yaounde sensation, Ulrich Chomche who returns to the team massively transformed physically after two years away.

Newly-appointed second assistant coach Auguste Siedjou who before his appointment was known for his position as head of basketball coaching operations at the University of Dschang, also made his debut in the team during the weekend sessions.

Fondong expressed his joy and satisfaction after registering the maiden appearance in the selection’s den.

According to sources with a good knowledge of the selection’s activities, the Basketball Lions selection will use the next two weeks to effectively train before the decisive tournament begins at the gymnasium of the Japoma Stadium on July 2.

The Basketball Lions kickstart the race with a decisive clash with Cabo Verde on July 2 before going on to challenge Libya and South Sudan on July 4 and July 5 in games two and three of the three-matchday showpiece.

The Japoma competition will serve as window of Group A of the African regional qualifiers to the 2027 Basketball World Cup competition which will be hosted by Qatar in August and September next year with five African representatives among the 32 participating nations.

Cameroon which is chasing its first ever appearance in the final phase of the prestigious global tournament, will head to Japoma series sitting second on the pool’s standing.

The side holds the comfortable position following its run of registering two victories from its three matches during the first window of the Group A matches which were played in Tunis in Tunisia in November last year.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3825 of Monday June 22, 2026