FIBA Africa Zone 3, Basketball Community Mourns Ayambire
The basketball community in Africa’s Zone 3 has been thrown into mourning following the death of Mr. Idrissu Ayambire, the Zone’s Head of Competitions and Technical Council, who died on Thursday morning at his residence in Accra, Ghana.
Ayambire’s death has left colleagues and administrators deeply saddened, particularly as many had believed he was making progress in his recovery and preparing to return to active service in basketball administration.
Expressing his grief in a condolence letter to the President of the Ghana Basketball Association (GBBA), Alex Kukula, FIBA Africa Zone 3 President, Col Sam Ahmedu (rtd), described the news as a rude shock, paying tribute to a man whose dedication and contributions helped shape basketball development across the region.
“The news of Idrissu’s death came to me as a rude shock. I knew his health challenges and as a body, we did our best to assist him but God knows best,” Ahmedu said.
He further described the late Ayambire as a principled individual whose experience, commitment and valuable counsel made him an important figure in the Zone’s basketball administration.
“He was a principled man and contributed to the growth of the Zone in his capacity as a technical official. We will miss his wise counsels,” he added.
Ayambire’s contribution to basketball extended far beyond his administrative responsibilities. A retired referee, he spent years officiating games before transitioning into basketball administration, where he continued to serve the sport with distinction.
His subsequent appointments as a Match Commissioner and FIBA delegate further reflected the trust placed in his knowledge, experience and understanding of the game.
As Head of Competitions and Technical Council, he played an important role in the technical administration of basketball competitions across FIBA Africa Zone 3.
His death represents a painful loss to a basketball community that benefited from his years of service, institutional knowledge and commitment to the development of the sport.
In honour of his memory, a minute of silence will be observed before the final match of Thursday at the ongoing FIBA Africa Zone 3 (FAZ3) African Women’s Basketball League (AWBL) Qualifiers.
The tribute will provide an opportunity for players, officials and other members of the basketball family to collectively remember a man whose life was devoted to the game.
Ahmedu, speaking on behalf of the Zone’s board and national federations, extended condolences to the Ghana Basketball Association and Ayambire’s bereaved family, praying for the peaceful repose of his soul and asking God to grant his loved ones the strength to endure the painful loss.
