AfriqueU, FIBA Zone V Unveil Under-19 Team for 2026 East Africa Championship

What changed

AfriqueU and FIBA Africa Zone V have unveiled the inaugural AfriqueU All-Stars, an under-19 team assembled for the East Africa Basketball Club Championship. The partnership was signed on October 25, 2026, and the team will compete at Nairobi’s Nyayo Indoor Gymnasium from December 1–6, with FIBA Zone V approving the final 12-player roster.

Why it matters

This gives young players from across FIBA Zone V a shared regional platform instead of leaving their development entirely to club competition. Coach Corey Gaines is leading identification and team development, while AfriqueU will cover preparation, travel, accommodation, uniforms and medical support.

Pioneer Creative 54, AfriqueU’s commercial arm, is the championship’s commercial partner. That makes the project more than a tournament appearance: it ties player development to an effort to make regional basketball more visible and commercially attractive.

The longer-term promise remains untested. The key measure will be whether this first selection produces meaningful scouting opportunities and a durable pathway into international basketball.