Madagascar's national police club COSPN have strengthened their squad with two African signings ahead of their Road to BAL 2027 campaign, the club confirmed at a press briefing in Mahamasina.
Coach Rasamoelina Tojo brought in Angolan pivot Jorge Filipe, a 2.08m former Petro de Luanda player, and Nigerian 2.01m guard Ikena Okeke, most recently with Naestved in Denmark. The two positions had been problem areas for the Malagasy side, according to Tojo.
COSPN are competing in Group D of the East Division at the Road to BAL first window, hosted by FIBA Africa in Hoima City, Uganda, from 21 to 25 October. They share the group with Uganda's Namuwongo Blazers, Burundi's Uranani Basketball Club and South Sudan's Patriots Basketball Club. Comoros side Ushundzi Basket have withdrawn from the pool.
The Malagasy club aim to finish in the top two and earn a ticket to the Elite 16 stage in Kenya from 17 to 22 November, with the best performers there progressing to the BAL 2027. The squad leaves Antananarivo on Tuesday 20 October.
Roster: 1-Livio (captain), 2-Orlando, 3-Lomario, 4-Hasina, 5-Arnol, 6-Antohony, 7-Riza, 8-Marco, 9-Stanlei, 10-Solomon, 11-Jorge Filipe, 12-Ikene Okeke. Coach: Rasamoelina Tojo.
