Cameroonian Politician Eric Aimé Niat, 49, was elected on June 8 to head the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Africa Zone 4, which comprises eight Central African countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Sao Tome & Principe). The election took place in Maputo, Mozambique, ahead of the 18th General Assembly of the African basketball governing body, held on June 9 and 10 in the Mozambican capital.

"This is a great victory for Cameroon and for its sports diplomacy," the newly elected president, who is also the vice-president of the Cameroonian Basketball Federation (Fecabasket), told the press. He claims that his election is the reward for his efforts in promoting and developing basketball in Cameroon, which has worthy representatives in the NBA, the world's most prestigious basketball championship.

He intends to work even harder for the development of this discipline in the sub-region. "This election gives the mayor a sub-regional and even international stature through sports. It comes barely a month after he was awarded the medal of Officer in the Order of Merit of Cameroon by the Head of State," wrote the Bangangté town hall (in the West), of which he is municipal mayor, on its Facebook page.

Éric Aimé Niat is the promoter of the Nzuimanto Academy, which combines sports and education. He played an active role in the organization of the first edition of the Cameroon women's Afrobasket (in 2015)  during which the Indomitable Lionesses became African runners-up for the first time.  

P.N.N