Sierra Leone will debut at the Africa Basketball Festival 2026, with FAMBUL founder Abubakr Dumbuya leading efforts to assemble a team representing Sierra Leoneans at home and in the diaspora.

The Africa Basketball Festival celebrates the culture surrounding the game, merging basketball, fashion and music. It unites players, creatives, and lovers of the game from across the continent for competition, style and entertainment.

Sierra Leone’s participation will mark a significant milestone for Sierra Leonean basketball, giving players the chance to showcase their talent on an international platform while representing their country at the 2026 Africa Basketball Festival happening from Wednesday, 9th to Sunday, 13th December at the University of Ghana Basketball Court, 3 pm daily in Accra, Ghana.

The team is being organised by Abubakr Dumbuya, founder of FAMBUL (fambul.com), a platform dedicated to creating spaces for the Sierra Leonean community to connect, collaborate and learn.

According to Dumbuya, the initiative is about more than competing in a tournament. It is also an opportunity to bring together Sierra Leoneans from different parts of the world and create a platform for their athletic talent to gain greater visibility.

“This is the first time Sierra Leone will be represented at the Africa Basketball Festival. We are bringing a team made up of Sierra Leoneans from home and from the diaspora,” Dumbuya said.

He added that the team's immediate objectives are to arrive well prepared, compete in every game, and make the country and its supporters proud.

Despite being the newest team in the competition, Dumbuya insists that Sierra Leone will approach the tournament with determination and a strong competitive spirit.

“Fans should expect a team that plays hard and competes in every game. We will be the newest team in the tournament, but we will not be outworked,” he stated.

Dumbuya also highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for Sierra Leonean athletes to demonstrate their abilities, noting that the country has a history of producing sporting talent.

“Sierra Leone has always produced athletes. Now we're giving them the platform to shine,” he added.

With preparations underway, the team will look to make a strong first impression, compete with determination, and establish Sierra Leone as a new presence at the Africa Basketball Festival.

The Africa Basketball Festival is brought to you by RITE Sports Services, in partnership with the University of Ghana Sports & Wellness Directorate, Ghana Basketball Federation, Ghana Tourism Authority, and Awuah Sports.

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