Lionel Bosco will lead the Belgian Lions through the upcoming EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualification windows in November and February 2027, lavenir.net reported. Basketball Belgium announced the permanent appointment on Sunday following a successful interim spell by the 45-old former national team point guard.

Taking Over the Bench After Summer Interim Duty

Bosco stepped into the interim role at the end of August after the departure of French coach Julien Mahé on July 13, whom Bosco had served as an assistant. Having earned 89 caps for Belgium during his playing career, Bosco expressed deep pride in shifting his role from the floor to the sidelines.

“Representing the Belgian Lions as Head Coach is an immense pride,” Bosco said. “I thank Basketball Belgium for the trust they are placing in me. I wore this jersey for years, and today I have the chance to defend it from the bench.”

Building a Familiar Coaching Staff With Beghin and Oveneke

To manage the upcoming fixtures, Bosco has appointed a coaching staff entirely composed of former national team players. Christophe Beghin, who worked alongside Bosco during a 92-81 victory over Czechia, returns to the bench. Randy Oveneke, who also coaches BC Asse Ternat, rounds out the staff.

“I wanted to surround myself with a staff that knows the house: former Lions who know what the national team represents,” Bosco said. “In August, I took a lot of pleasure. The group experienced a very nice week, with a real state of mind and a lot of desire.”

High Stakes on the Road in Norway and Czechia

Belgium enters the November window with clear qualification objectives. Sweeping their away fixtures against Norway and the Czech Republic will secure the Lions’ passage directly into the main EuroBasket qualification rounds.

“The stakes are clear: if we win our two matches in Norway and the Czech Republic, we will be qualified for the EuroBasket qualifiers,” Bosco said. “These are two away matches and it will not be easy, but we are leaving with a lot of ambition. And whatever happens, we are already building for the window after that.”

Belgian Lions Return for EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifications

The Belgian Lions return to competitive action in November for the second window of the EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifications, followed by the concluding window scheduled for February 2027.