Team Ghana may not have returned home with the trophy, but they walked away from the Giants of Africa Festival 2025 with pride, purpose, and proof that the future of Ghanaian basketball is bright.
Representing the country in both boys’ and girls’ divisions, Ghana entered the prestigious continental event in Kigali, which took place from July 26 to August 2 with ambition. And while the girls’ team faced a tough group stage, the boys’ team delivered a spirited campaign that ended in dramatic fashion in the quarterfinals.
Strong Start for the Boys: Belief, Wins, and a Fight to Remember
Led by coach Feranmi Olunloyo and coach Selorm Thomas, the Ghanaian boys opened their tournament with a commanding win over Cameroon. They carried that momentum into another victory against Somalia before falling to the eventual group leaders, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A bounce-back win over South Africa secured second place in the group and passage to the knockout stage.
“We went there with the hope that we could get our guys to win the tournament… and we still believe that our guys were capable of winning the whole thing,” Coach Selorm shared after the event.
Their quarterfinal opponent, Mali, brought with them a legacy—they were the reigning African U18 champions and featured players with World Cup experience. But Ghana matched them stride for stride in what became one of the most talked-about games of the tournament.
Ghana trailed by eight points in the final minutes but rallied to take the lead in regulation. Mali forced overtime, where they narrowly edged out Ghana in a heart-pounding finish.
“That game was probably the best of the tournament,” Coach Selorm said. “It went into overtime. We fought hard. The boys gave everything for the country.”
Leadership Honoured: Mac-Francis Dzameshie Wins Leadership Award
In recognition of his exemplary leadership on and off the court, Team Ghana captain Mac-Francis Dzameshie received the Leadership Award, one of the special honors presented at the festival. His calm presence, guidance, and motivation were instrumental in Ghana’s performances.
Tough Learning Curve for the Girls Team
The girls’ team, on the other hand, endured a challenging group stage. They began with a win over Benin but suffered defeats against Nigeria, DRC, and South Sudan.
Though results didn’t go their way, the experience offered invaluable lessons and exposure to top-tier continental competition.
“It wasn’t what we wanted, but overall, it was good,” Coach Selorm said. “There were many things to adjust to—the altitude, the weather—but we competed.”
Recognition Amid the Competition
Two Ghanaian players were selected for the prestigious All-Star Game, a showcase of the tournament’s top performers. Abdul Aziz Yakubu represented the boys, while Salamatu Hadi flew Ghana’s flag on the girls’ side—clear signs of the individual quality that exists within the team and recognition of their standout efforts throughout the week.
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Overall View of Giants of Africa Festival 2025
The 2025 Festival, hosted at the newly opened Zaria Court in Kigali, ended on a high with a vibrant co-ed All-Star game. The event brought together 200 of Africa’s most promising young basketball talents and gave them a platform to shine under the guidance of elite coaches. Not forgetting a star-studded guest appearance by NBA Star, Kawhi Leonard.
Rwanda’s boys team and Mali’s girls team were crowned champions on Friday evening.
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Rwanda defeated Senegal 27-24 in the Boys’ Championship, after navigating past South Sudan and DRC in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
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Mali beat Morocco and Nigeria en route to a 20-17 win over Senegal in the Girls’ Final.
Individual Awards
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Most Valuable Player (Girls): Oummou Koumare (Mali)
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Most Valuable Player (Boys): Dylan Lebson Kayijuka (Rwanda)
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Most Improved Player (Girls): Chaimaa Aarab (Morocco)
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Most Improved Player (Boys): Amos Mugisha (Uganda)
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Best Defensive Player (Girls): Aminata Ndong (Senegal)
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Best Defensive Player (Boys): Pape Moussa Diallo (Senegal)
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Leadership Award: Mac-Francis Dzameshie (Ghana)
All-Star Selections Featuring Ghanaian Talent
The All-Star game featured standout boys and girls from each participating country. Ghana was proudly represented by:
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Girls: Salamatu Hadi
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Boys: Abdul Aziz Yakubu
Their selection signaled Ghana’s growing stature on the continental basketball stage.
Other Festival Highlights
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The RwandAir halftime show thrilled fans with a breathtaking acrobatic performance by the Abatanguha Dance Company.
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Three special awards were presented for the first time:
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GOA Coaches Awards: Coach Sofia Bey (Morocco) & Coach Lebesa Selepe (South Africa)
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Best Team Award: Girls team from the Democratic Republic of Congo
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Coach Selorm believes the experience has only strengthened the case for youth basketball development in Ghana.
“This tournament showed that if we have a national team structure at the youth level, these guys can go out and compete against the best on the continent. We came home with our heads held high, knowing we gave everything.”
Ghana may not have claimed silverware, but their campaign at Giants of Africa 2025 showcased talent, heart, leadership, and a relentless desire to rise. With the right support, structure, and preparation, the next edition could very well end with Ghana standing tall among the champions.
