Bonaparte Nijirazana, president of the Hippos club, met with journalists on 18 October 2026 to discuss preparations for the Women Basketball League Africa qualifiers. The Hippos earned their spot in the regional tournament after finishing in second place in the Burundi women’s senior first division. These upcoming Women Basketball League Africa qualifiers for the East Africa zone will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The club’s management has been working to ensure that the team is fully prepared for the logistical and competitive demands of traveling to Dar es Salaam. Bonaparte Nijirazana emphasized the importance of the team’s performance in the Burundi women’s senior first division, which served as the primary qualification pathway for this regional stage. By securing second place in the domestic league, the Hippos demonstrated the consistency required to compete against top-tier clubs from across the East Africa zone. The coaching staff and the players have maintained a rigorous training schedule in the lead-up to the event to ensure they are physically and tactically ready for the intensity of the qualifiers.
Tournament Group Stage Opponents
Les Hippos face a competitive field in the group stage of the Women Basketball League Africa qualifiers. The team shares its group with APR from Rwanda, Vijana Queens from Tanzania, and Equity Hawks from Kenya. Each of these opponents represents a significant hurdle for the Burundi-based club as it seeks to advance within the regional tournament structure.
The inclusion of APR, a prominent club from Rwanda, adds a layer of regional rivalry to the group stage proceedings. Similarly, the presence of the Equity Hawks from Kenya ensures that the Hippos must contend with high-level basketball standards throughout the tournament. The competition format requires the Hippos to navigate these fixtures with precision, as the results in Dar es Salaam will determine the progression of the club in the Women Basketball League Africa. Each match is viewed by the club leadership as a critical opportunity to showcase the caliber of basketball currently being played in Burundi.
The Hippos entered this match-up with recent experience against one of their current group rivals. In their opening match of the competition, the Hippos defeated the Vijana Queens of Tanzania. The final score of that contest was 84 to 82. This result provides the team with an initial victory as they continue the qualifiers in Dar es Salaam.
This narrow victory over the Vijana Queens shows the high level of competition present in the East Africa zone. The 84 to 82 scoreline reflects the back-and-forth nature of the contest, requiring the Hippos to maintain focus during the final minutes of play. As the tournament continues, the team will look to build on this momentum when facing APR and the Equity Hawks. The players and staff remain dedicated to the objective of advancing through the group stage, representing their club and country on the continental stage. The focus now shifts to the remaining fixtures in the schedule as the Hippos aim to solidify their standing in the group.
