Liberia men's national basketball team

Last updated

Liberia Flag of Liberia.svg
Liberia Basketball Federation.jpg
FIBA ranking NR (25 February 2025) [1]
Joined FIBA 1964
FIBA zone FIBA Africa
National federation LBF
Coach Adam Sackor
Olympic Games
AppearancesNone
FIBA World Cup
Appearances None
FIBA Africa Championship
Appearances2 (1983, 2007)
MedalsNone
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Kit body basketball.svg
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Home
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Away

The Liberia national basketball team is the national basketball team representing Liberia. It is administered by the Liberia Basketball Federation. [2] Its last qualification to the FIBA Africa Championship dates back to 2007. [3] Its most noteworthy international performance was in 1983 when Liberia finished among Africa's 10 elite basketball teams. [4] According to the website, Afrobasket.com, the Liberia National Basketball team has not been in existence since 2013. [5]

Contents

History

Basketball in Liberia began to grow in popularity during the 1960s and 1970s, particularly in Monrovia, where local leagues and school tournaments helped establish the sport. [6] The national team made its first appearances in international competition under the banner of FIBA Africa during the late 1970s.

Liberia’s most notable participation came in the FIBA Africa Championship 1983, held in Cairo, Egypt. The tournament marked the country’s debut on the continental stage, and although Liberia did not advance past the early rounds, the event provided valuable experience and exposure for Liberian basketball players. [7]

During the civil conflicts of the 1990s and early 2000s, basketball activity in Liberia was severely disrupted, with many domestic competitions suspended and the national team unable to regularly compete in qualifiers. [8]

In the post-war period, the Liberia Basketball Federation (LBF) focused on rebuilding the sport through grassroots development, organizing the national league in Monrovia and restarting youth programs. [9] Although the senior men’s national team has yet to re-establish itself as a regular participant in the AfroBasket tournament, Liberia continues to take part in regional competitions and FIBA Africa qualifiers, with the long-term goal of returning to continental prominence.

Current squad

Team for the AfroBasket 2007. [10] (last publicized squad)

Liberia men's national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
4 Stephen Kollie 19 – (1988-08-14)14 August 1988 Invincible Eleven Flag of Liberia.svg
G 5 Samson Nyonno 32 – (1975-04-06)6 April 1975 NPA Pythons Flag of Liberia.svg
6 Stuart Koffa 21 – (1986-02-24)24 February 1986 NPA Pythons Flag of Liberia.svg
7 Sam Gbollie 24 – (1982-12-25)25 December 1982 Flag of Liberia.svg
8 Jonathan Krah 35 – (1972-04-18)18 April 1972 NPA Pythons Flag of Liberia.svg
9 Vernon Gbotoe 19 – (1988-04-01)1 April 1988 Dream Team (Liberia) Flag of Liberia.svg
10 Patrick Tugbe 21 – (1985-10-15)15 October 1985 Invincible Eleven Flag of Liberia.svg
11 Harold Mulbah 25 – (1982-01-13)13 January 1982 Flag of Liberia.svg
G 12 Phillip Flomo 19 – (1987-12-19)19 December 19875 ft 10 in (1.78 m) NPA Pythons Flag of Liberia.svg
13 Raymond Kromah 17 – (1990-06-29)29 June 1990 Flag of Liberia.svg
14 Desmond Wesseh 25 – (1981-09-04)4 September 1981
15 Ryan Yakpah 23 – (1984-02-04)4 February 1984 Flag of Liberia.svg
Head coach
  • Flag of Liberia.svg Adam Sackor
Assistant coach(es)
Flag of Liberia.svg Theodore Suah
Legend
  • Club – describes last
    club before the tournament
  • Age – describes age
    on 15 August 2007

At the AfroBasket 2007 in Angola, Raphael M. Quaye played most minutes and recorded most assists and steals for Liberia. [11]

Depth chart

Pos.Starting 5BenchBench 3
C
PF
SF
SG Samson Nyonno
PG Harold Mulbah J Wellington Barchue Jr

Notable players

Other current notable players from Liberia:

Liberia men's national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClub
G Prince Williams 27 – (1992-08-22)22 August 19921.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Rethymno Cretan Kings B.C. Flag of Greece.svg

Legend
  • Club – describes current club
  • Age – describes age
    on 13 January 2020

Competitive record

Summer Olympics

yet to qualify

World championships

yet to qualify

FIBA Africa Championship

YearPositionTournamentHost
19839 FIBA Africa Championship 1983 Alexandria, Egypt
200716 FIBA Africa Championship 2007 Angola

African Games

Past rosters

1983 FIBA Africa Championship: finished 9th among 10 teams

2007 FIBA Africa Championship: finished 16th among 16 teams

John Bing, Jethro Bing, Varney Tulay, Marcus Wolo, Fitzgerald Cole, Alphonso Kuiah, Raphael Quaye, Francis Fayiah, Alvin Tapeh, Mark Smith, Joseph Lackey, Richelieu Allison, Cephus Solo, Meshach McBorrough, Samuel Assembe (Coach: Allan Jallah)

See also

References

  1. "FIBA World Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  2. "FIBA.com: Profile – Liberia" . Retrieved 29 January 2012.[ dead link ]
  3. "archive.FIBA.com: 2007 FIBA Africa Championship for Men". Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  4. "archive.FIBA.com: 1983 FIBA Africa Championship for Men". Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  5. "Afrobasket". Afrobasket.com. 2020.
  6. "Basketball development in Liberia: A sport on the rise". FrontPage Africa. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  7. "Looking back: Liberia's first appearance at AfroBasket". FIBA. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  8. "Liberian basketball struggles amid conflict". AllAfrica. 1 August 2001. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  9. "LBF launches new league to revive basketball". FrontPage Africa. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  10. Liberia | 2007 FIBA Africa Championship for Men [ dead link ], ARCHIVE.FIBA.COM. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  11. Liberia | 2007 FIBA Africa Championship for Men, FIBA.COM. Retrieved 16 January 2020.