Botswana’s FIBA 3x3 Nations League journey ends
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:37
The league features a regional conference structure, multiple daily tournament stops, and a youth World Cup qualification path. The Africa South region stop was hosted by Botswana Basketball Association (BBA) at Royal Aria Indoor Arena from July 20 to 26. BBA president, Mothusi Thipe told Sport Monitor that the tournament went according to plan.
He explained that five top African countries in 3x3 basketball participated with Madagascar ranked number one while Egypt followed in the second position, and Botswana ranked number 14.
“There were six stops every day, with each day having a winner,” Thipe said.
“The overall winner is Egypt. Botswana managed to win against some of the best countries such as Angola, Algeria and Madagascar even though they did not win overall stop.”
Meanwhile, 3x3 national Coach for both men and women, Shalosh Matsetse told Sport Monitor that he started working with the teams since May when preparations for the Africa South stop began.
Matsetse said during the preparations, he had an opportunity to work with international experts, being coach Richard Billiant and a former French player, Angelo Tsagarakis who were brought into the country by the association.
“In the past it was difficult to call a training camp because of financial challenge but this time around we received funding from the Olympic Solidarity Fund through Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC). “That made it possible for us to bring 3x3 experts to assist us in preparations and understanding. It was not only players who learnt from the coaches, even myself I learnt a lot from them,” Matsetse said.
He explained that there are 3x3 FIBA tournaments that happen around the World, with three held in Africa and Botswana was given an opportunity to host the Africa South tournament.
The winner of the stop qualified for the Under 23 World Cup where they will play against the winners from other continents such as America and Europe.
Matsetse also said some of the countries that competed in the Africa South stop have players that play professional basketball in Europe as such they gave local players much needed exposure.
“I hope our players have impressed some talent scouts and other clubs based outside. Having players playing in pro-circuits will be a huge boost for us as a country,” he stated.
“We started the competition slowly, by playing 3x3 like conventional 5x5 while other countries were fast. Our teams were also slow to shoot, we also failed to take perimeter shots and that caused us to have many turnovers, costing us in the process. “The intensity of the games was challenge, they were fast and short. We were slow because we are used to 5x5 not 3x3. It is a lesson moving forward.”
Matsetse said players were also fatigued because local players are not used to playing for straight games.
In the last matches of Stop Six, the women's team walloped Algeria 10-8 while the men’s team lost 14-8 to Angola while Madagascar men beat Egypt 20-16 while Egypt women overcame Madagascar 16-14.
Teams: Women: Legakwa Happy Johannes, Sethunya Lorato Motsumi, Lame Moitheki Ntwayagae and Thabiso Abigail Odirile.
Men: Joshua Bongani Mbaiwa, Dingane O.K Motswadira, Motheo Batsho Semausu and Maatla Tsweneygo.