Kinshasa, March 2nd, 2026 (CPA) – The Leopards men’s basketball team of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) finished third in Group B at the end of the first leg of the FIBA Basketball World Cup African qualifiers, according to official competition statistics. Based on the figures released, the DRC collected four points from three matches, recording one victory and two defeats. With this standing, the Congolese side will be required to carefully approach the return leg, avoiding further setbacks in order to secure qualification for the final phase of the global basketball tournament scheduled to take place in Qatar in 2027. At the end of the first leg of the second qualifying window, the full Group B standings are as follows: Côte d’Ivoire leads with six points, followed by Senegal (5 points), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (4 points), and Madagascar (3 points).
A Satisfactory Campaign for the DRC
In Group B, the DRC played three matches, securing a victory against Madagascar (87–79) on the opening day, before suffering two defeats against Côte d’Ivoire (59–96) and Senegal (82–89) in subsequent fixtures. Despite the setbacks, the campaign remains satisfactory for the Congolese side. With only a two-point gap separating them from the group leader, the Leopards remain firmly in contention for qualification to the final tournament. The DRC Leopards, who demonstrated resilience and fighting spirit throughout their matches, are now called upon to focus on the decisive return leg with the firm ambition of securing their place among the nations qualified for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.