The Madagascar U23 women’s Ankoay team is preparing for their first-ever FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup, scheduled from September 15 to 19 in Wuhan, China, following their qualification in Gaborone during the FIBA 3×3 Nations League. While awaiting the official group draw, the team continues training at Mahamasina under the guidance of coach Eli Michael Rakotonindrina.
The mission will be challenging, but it serves as a vital opportunity to measure the gap between them and world-class teams like the Netherlands, France, and the United States. In 3×3 basketball, the game is played at a high tempo with little time for recovery or error correction. Accuracy, defensive intensity, winning individual duels, and managing final possessions are crucial factors that can decide a match.
For the Malagasy players, the primary goal is not to win the world title, but to gain experience as part of the national youth development strategy. They will need to impose their aggressiveness and rhythm while minimizing turnovers and unnecessary fouls against top-tier nations.
Coach Eli Michael Rakotonindrina stated, “This World Cup is primarily an opportunity to gain experience that regional competitions cannot offer. Each match in Wuhan will allow the players to discover different styles of play, higher intensity, and superior physical and tactical demands.”
The Ankoay do not start as favorites, but they aim to play the role of underdogs capable of causing an upset by playing freely and defending with intensity.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-04 06:08:47 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/basketball-fiba-3×3-world-cup-u23-les.html