Africa is set to take centre stage as eFIBA Season 4, the official National Team digital basketball competition powered by NBA® 2K26, tips off with the African Pre-Qualifiers on January 13.
This marks the beginning of a new chapter for virtual basketball on the continent, as African National Federations join 58 countries worldwide in the race to become eFIBA Season 4 World Champions.
Africa Leads the Global Kick-Off
The African Pre-Qualifiers will run from January 13 to January 23, officially launching the global competition. A total of 15 African countries will compete for progression into the next phase of the tournament.
The Africa Pre-Qualifier Group Draw has been confirmed as follows:
Group A
- Algeria
- Egypt
- Somalia
- Namibia
- Malawi
- Angola
- Nigeria
- Ghana
Group B
- Morocco
- Mali
- Tunisia
- Togo
- Ivory Coast
- DR Congo
- Benin
Teams advancing from the African Pre-Qualifiers will move on to the Regional Qualifiers, scheduled to take place between January 31 and March 8.
The Road to Doha
eFIBA Season 4 will culminate in the World Finals in Doha, Qatar, set for late April. Hosted in the Middle East for the first time, the Finals will feature eight national teams, competing for a $50,000 prize pool and global recognition.
All participating nations are distributed across six regional Conferences, with each region playing through three competition stages:
- Pre-Qualifiers
- Regional Qualifiers
- Regional Finals
Only the top two teams from each Conference will earn a spot at the World Finals.
A Critical Moment for African Digital Basketball
While African participation in eFIBA continues to grow, previous seasons have presented challenges, including teams failing to appear for scheduled matches. In many cases, this has been linked to basketball federations registering teams without fully engaging local esports communities.
As Season 4 begins, there is optimism that African federations will take a more inclusive and collaborative approach, working closely with esports players, organisers, and communities to ensure stronger preparation, commitment, and competitiveness.
How to Follow eFIBA Season 4
Fans across Africa can follow the competition through the updated eFIBA website, which will provide schedules, results, team, and player information. From the Regional Qualifiers onward, matches will be streamed live on eFIBA’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.
The broadcast team once again features Vince Chang, Chris Simpson, and India Zuleimad, with Jasmine McKoy and Taras Metencuks joining the lineup this season.
Season 4 will also see Tissot extend its partnership into eFIBA, introducing the TISSOT Clutch Time Award and TISSOT MVP Award.
Africa’s Opportunity on the Global Stage
As the first games tip off, eFIBA Season 4 represents more than just competition for Africa. It is an opportunity to showcase talent, strengthen federation–community collaboration, and cement the continent’s place in the global virtual basketball ecosystem.
If handled right, Season 4 could be a defining moment for African virtual basketball.
