Ghana to open title defence against Liberia in expanded Africa Basketball Festival

Defending champions Ghana will begin their title defence against Liberia in the opening match of the Africa Basketball Festival (ABF) on October 24, 2024, at the University of Ghana Basketball Court. The tournament pairings were revealed at a launch event in Accra on Thursday.

The expanded 2024 edition of the ABF will feature ten teams, including last year’s losing finalists, the United States, who will face France in the opening rounds. Other teams in the four-day competition include China, Great Britain, Togo, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria.

Ghana captain Gabriel Ashaley expressed confidence ahead of the tournament, stating, "We are hopeful of retaining the title. We are preparing very well for the challenge ahead, and we have the men to give us the results."

In addition to the international competition, a University Contest between the University of Ghana and the Ghana Communication Technology University will also take place. All the games will be live on the official television broadcaster GTV Sports Plus.

Event launch and expansion

During the launch, the Director of the University of Ghana Sports & Wellness Directorate, Dr. Austin Luguterah, highlighted the importance of the event, calling it a "celebration of basketball, fashion, and music" and a testament to the unifying power of sports across borders. He urged participants to embrace sportsmanship, noting that the competition will also serve as a platform to identify new basketball talent.

The CEO of RITE Sports, Yaw Sakyi Afari, reflected on the tournament's growth since its inception in 2019, when only two teams from Accra and Tema competed. This year’s expansion to ten nations marks a significant milestone. He added that plans are underway to include more teams, fashion houses, and musicians in future editions of the festival.

The event was officially launched by Ghanaian boxing legend Azumah Nelson, and sponsorship support has come from brands like Indomie Noodles, GTS Drilling Ghana, GoldGod Entertainment, and GLICO General Insurance, among others. 

The Africa Basketball Festival will run from October 24 to 27, 2024, promising to be a thrilling celebration of sport, culture, and entertainment.