Guyana’s senior men’s basketball team will need a top-two finish against Nicaragua, Jamaica and Costa Rica this November to advance to the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Qualifiers, after receiving an invitation to join the second round of pre-qualifying.
Three group games will determine whether Guyana moves into the next phase, which begins in November 2027. The Group A tournament will run from November 27–29, 2026, at the Polideportivo Alexis Arguello in Managua, Nicaragua.
The opportunity follows Antigua and Barbuda’s withdrawal. According to the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF), Guyana was invited by FIBA Americas after being identified as the next highest-ranked men’s national team in the Caribbean.
The rankings included in the federation’s announcement place Guyana at 22, making it the lowest-ranked side in Group A. Hosts Nicaragua are listed at 15, followed by Jamaica at 16 and Costa Rica at 17.
Each team will face the other three sides in its group once. With only the top two advancing, Guyana must finish ahead of at least two opponents to secure a place in the qualifiers.
Attention now turns to assembling and preparing the national team. The GBF said its work will cover squad selection, player eligibility and registration, travel arrangements and coordination of the delegation under FIBA’s competition requirements.
The team is scheduled to arrive in Nicaragua on November 25, two days before the competition window opens, and leave on November 30.
GBF President Michael Singh said the federation was ready to take up the challenge and thanked FIBA Americas for the invitation.
“Our focus now shifts immediately to preparation for the upcoming window,” Singh said.
While expressing regret that another national federation had to withdraw, Singh welcomed the chance for Guyana’s senior men to continue their pursuit of a place at the FIBA AmeriCup 2029.
The GBF will announce the roster, technical staff and further tournament arrangements through its official channels as preparations develop.
Eight teams will compete in this round, divided equally between two groups. Alongside the tournament in Nicaragua, Group B will take place at the Gimnasio Ciudad de La Asuncion in Isla Margarita, Venezuela, also from November 27–29.
That group comprises hosts Venezuela, Cuba, Barbados and Ecuador. The rankings list Venezuela at eight, Cuba at 14, Barbados at 20 and Ecuador at 27. Its top two finishers will join the two successful Group A teams in advancing.
The federation views Guyana’s invitation as evidence of the programme’s regional progress and an opportunity for the country’s best senior men’s players to compete for a place in the next stage of the continental championship.
It has called on businesses, the basketball community, fans and the wider public to rally behind the team, saying national support and cooperation will be important in ensuring Guyana is properly prepared for the assignment.
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