AfroBasket 2009

AfroBasket 2009 was the 25th FIBA Africa Championship, played under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball, the basketball sport governing body, and the African zone thereof. At stake were the three berths allocated to Africa in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. The tournament was hosted by Libya after Nigeria, the original host, withdrew from hosting after not conforming to FI BA Africa guidelines. It is estimated that over 70 media channels covered the engagements, with the top three positioned squads automatically qualifying to represent the continent for the 2010 World Championship, to be held from August 28 to September 12, in Turkey. This historic event also coincides with ongoing celebratory activities marking the 40th anniversary of Libya's 1 September Revolution (Great Al-Fatih Revolution) and the tenth anniversary of the Sirte Declaration establishing the African Union (AU) on September 9, 1999. The decision favoring Libya to organize the. 25th edition, followed the withdrawal of Nigeria who failed to conform to FIBA. Africa guidelines, was made on February 7, 2009, in the presence of Libya’s National Olympic Committee president Mohammad Al-Amariy.