Monrovia set for AWBL Zone 3 qualifying showdown
..As MFM, First Bank and four other clubs fight for two tickets
The race for two places in the final rounds of the African Women’s Basketball League (AWBL) will take centre stage in Monrovia, Liberia as six clubs prepare to compete in the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers from November 2 to 9, 2026.
With the competition set for the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Indoor Gymnasium in Paynesville, the participating teams face a demanding week in which every result could prove decisive in their quest to reach the continental finals in Cairo, Egypt, scheduled for December 11–19.
Liberia will have two representatives in the contest, with Flames Basketball Club, the domestic league runners-up, joined by reigning national champions D’Rockers Basketball Club. Both sides will be eager to make home advantage count against a competitive field.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Friends of Basketball Association (FBA), the defending FIBA Africa Zone 3 champions, will arrive with a title to defend, while Benin Republic’s Energie Basketball Club of Cotonou brings its experience from previous appearances in the competition.
Nigeria’s Mountain of Fire Ministries (MFM) Basketball Club and First Bank Basketball Club complete the six-team lineup, setting up another chapter in one of the country’s notable domestic rivalries.
MFM heads to Liberia with bragging rights after edging First Bank 66–64 in the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League final at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium.
The closely fought encounter, played before a packed arena, underlined how little separates the two Nigerian sides.
Their meeting in Monrovia could therefore carry added significance, as both clubs seek to translate their domestic form into continental success and secure passage to Cairo.
The Nigerian representatives were able to enter the qualifiers after FIBA Africa and the Liberia Basketball Association (LBA) extended the registration deadline and adjusted the competition schedule.
The changes followed an intervention by FIBA Africa Zone 3 President, Colonel Sam Ahmedu (Rtd), enabling both clubs to participate after the late conclusion of their domestic league campaign.
Preparations in Liberia are also gathering momentum. Calvin Diggs, President of Flames Basketball Club and Secretary-General of the LBA, told journalists that they are working to ensure a smooth and successful event.
According to Diggs, the Organizing Committee and the LBA have intensified preparations, with the goal of delivering a competition that meets international standards.
FIBA Africa Zone 3 Secretary Joe Apu also expressed confidence in Liberia’s readiness, pointing to the experience accumulated by the country’s basketball community through hosting several international events in recent years.
As the countdown continues, the six clubs are reportedly reinforcing their squads ahead of the showdown. The immediate objective for the teams are clear, finish among the top two and earn the opportunity to compete for the AWBL title in Egypt.
With the defending zonal champions, two Nigerian rivals, experienced Béninois contenders and a determined Liberian challenge all in the mix, the Monrovia qualifiers promise a compelling test of depth, consistency and ambition.
