Kenya part of Africa’s top young hoopers set for regional youth camp in Egypt

This year's FIBA Africa Regional Youth Camp is set to take place at the renowned Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall in Cairo, Egypt.

This highly anticipated event will once again provide a unique opportunity for Africa's young hoopers to develop their on-court skills, forge lifelong friendships with not only their peers but also many of the coaches, and gain invaluable life lessons.

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The girls' camp got underway on Sunday, 12 October, and runs through to Wednesday, featuring a series of training sessions, fun but competitive games, and workshops led by experienced coaches and former professional players.

One such former player is none other than the proud Beninese-born, former France national team star Isabelle Yacoubou.

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In 2012, Yacoubou, who was born in Godomey, a town in southern Benin, was drafted into the WNBA by the Atlanta Dream.

However, the former centre spent most of her playing career in Europe, competing for powerhouse clubs such as Fenerbahçe, Famila Schio, Tango Bourges Basket, and Tarbes GB.

During her incredible career, Yacoubou won the EuroLeague Women (2012) and the EuroCup Women (2022). She is a two-time French LFB League champion, a two-time Italian LBF League champion, and a two-time and four-time Italian Cup winner.

Yacoubou was not a role player; many times during her career, she was the star of the show, winning two French LFB League MVP titles (2009, 2010), an Italian LBF League MVP (2018), and an Italian Cup MVP (2018) crown.

She was also a recipient of a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, a gold medal at FIBA EuroBasket Women 2009, two silver medals at EuroBasket Women 2013 and 2015, as well as a bronze medal at EuroBasket Women 2011.

She averaged 11.5 points and 6.2 rebounds throughout her Euroleague Women and EuroCup Women career. Her best year of her continental club career came in 2015 in Euroleague Women, when she played for Italian giants Beretta Famila, averaging 16.4 points and 8.7 rebounds.

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Each participant will be given personalised guidance tailored to their individual strengths and areas for improvement, ensuring a comprehensive and personalised development experience.

Four days after the end of the girls' camp, the boys' camp will take place from Sunday, 19 to Wednesday, 22 October, where similarly high-quality training sessions, drills, and games will be held.

All the young budding hoopers at the camps will focus on improving their understanding of the game while nurturing essential skills such as teamwork, leadership, and communication, which are key attributes that will serve them well throughout their life.

With over 18 African countries represented, including Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, and Gabon (to name a few), this camp will be a melting pot of rich, diverse talents and cultures that the great continent of Africa is famous for.

The camp will also bring together various ideas and ideologies, making it a fantastic platform for personal growth and networking.