The second round of the African qualifiers for the FIBA 2027 World Cup begins this Thursday, August 27, opening a crucial phase for the twelve national teams still in contention. Until Sunday, August 30, eighteen games will be played across two host cities, Dakar in Senegal and Radès in Tunisia, split between Groups E and F.
This fourth window follows three earlier rounds that thinned out the field to its most competitive contenders. The twelve remaining nations carry over the points they earned against opponents they now find themselves facing again in their new groups, a detail that could weigh heavily in the race for the five qualifying spots reserved for the continent.
In Dakar, Senegal arrives in a commanding position. The Lions currently top Group F with a record of five wins and one loss, and boast the competition’s strongest numbers under the basket, averaging 52 rebounds and nearly eight blocks per game. Having played every match on home soil so far, the Senegalese squad will again benefit from a supportive crowd for three more fixtures, including a meeting with Egypt, whose campaign has been far less consistent at three wins and three losses.
Ivory Coast and Mali are also among the favorites heading into this round. Reigning African champions Angola, meanwhile, travel to Dakar well aware they need to raise their level after a mixed showing at home during the previous window. Their recent record against the group’s heavyweights, particularly Senegal and Ivory Coast, offers little reassurance.
In Radès, Tunisia will play in front of its home fans hoping to close the gap on Group E leaders Cameroon. The Tunisian side, trailing by a single point after a first round that included a defeat to Guinea, now faces three new opponents: Cape Verde, Cameroon and South Sudan. Head coach Adel Tlatli knows his team has little margin left if it wants to top the group before the final window in February.
Guinea is another team worth watching closely in Group E. Coming off a strong first round, the squad led by new head coach Corey Alan Frazier opens this phase against South Sudan before facing Cape Verde and then Cameroon.
Other teams enter this stage in a far tougher spot. The Democratic Republic of Congo, which holds the weakest record among the twelve qualified nations at two wins and four losses, parted ways with coach Michel Perrin just days before the window began, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the Leopards. Nigeria, long struggling, appears to be finding its footing again and looks capable of competing with its Group E rivals, Cameroon, Tunisia and Guinea.
Each host city will stage nine games, with rest days differing by group. No Group F match will be played in Dakar on Friday, August 28, while Group E teams will get a break on Saturday, August 29. Every team, however, will be in action on the opening and closing days, August 27 and 30.
By the end of this window, the balance of power within both groups should be considerably clearer, as the contenders for Africa’s five tickets to Qatar continue to take shape.