The Basketball Federation has carried out a pre-selection operation for the benefit of the national U16 girls’ and boys’ teams at the Souidania Regrouping Center since the 21st of the current month. Under the direction of an extended technical staff, namely the national technical director, Fillali Salah Eddine, the director of the national teams, Yacine Bilal, the general coordinator of the national selections, Belkaid Mohamed, the national coach U16 boys, Benakouche Azzedine, and national coach U16 girls, Radia Boulahia. The test sessions saw limited places given the prior passage of the regional selections. The choice was made with the size factor as the main parameter, according to a well-informed source. So far, 20 players have been selected to make up the future national team in anticipation of the next deadlines from 2023. Other similar operations should take place soon to strengthen the selections of this age group. The preparation of a new succession for the 2024-2027 Olympic mandate begins now, in particular for the senior ladies selection which, let us remember, has experienced a huge deficit in terms of quality players for years. This accentuated the delay compared to
to several selections from the continent. Among the boys, the progressive rejuvenation has already begun with the incorporation of some young elements, in particular those who evolve in academies in the United States of America. Currently, U20s can, according to the same source, be part of the National Five during the Afrobasket 2025 qualifiers. After missing the qualification for the 2021 edition which took place in Kigali, Rwanda, the national team is preparing the return in force on the African level. Moreover, the federation will engage the selection during the next Arab Nations Championship scheduled for February 2023 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. After this deadline, Touati Seddik’s teammates will take part in the African Championship for local players (AFROCAN) which will take place next July and whose location has not yet been announced by FIBA-Africa. As a reminder, the FABB has renewed the contract of national coach Benyabou and his staff up to AFROCAN as the president of the federal body, Rabah Bouarifi, had already revealed to us.
Adel K.
