Monrovia—Liberia’s U-23 Wheelchair Basketball team has received an invitation to participate in the upcoming International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Africa World Championship Qualifiers, slated for February 3-13, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
By: Christopher C. Walker, [email protected]
The tournament will feature six African nations, including South Africa, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Liberia, and Libya. The event serves as a qualification opportunity for the World Championships, where one African country will secure a spot to represent the continent in São Paulo, Brazil, in June 2025 at the IWBF World U23 Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Championship.
In preparation for this international competition, the Liberia National Wheelchair Basketball Federation (LNWBF) has been training its U23 team intensively. LNWBF President Ambassador S. Lionel Johnson expressed confidence in the team’s readiness, stating they have been training since 2022.
“The Republic of Liberia National U23 Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team is more than prepared. We are ready technically, financially, and logistically,” Ambassador Johnson said.
He commended the Government of Liberia for its support, particularly under the leadership of Honorable Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu, Minister of Youth and Sports.
This championship marks a significant milestone for Liberia, as it will be the country’s first participation at this level.
Ambassador Johnson emphasized the importance of representation to avoid potential sanctions, noting that Liberia has missed three previous invitations since 2021, resulting in fines totaling $8,000.
As the representative of West Africa among the six qualifying teams, Johnson is eager for Liberia to seize this opportunity.
He expressed optimism about the players’ performances and aims to ensure the delegation leaves the country well in advance to acclimatize to the South African climate.
The Liberia delegation is expected to comprise 23 members, including players, technical staff, and officials from the federation and the government.