Chad, South Sudan and Cape Verde to tussle for 2021 AfroBasket qualifying ticket in Cameroon

YAOUNDE (Cameroon) - The Yaounde Sports Complex in Cameroon will serve as the arena where Cape Verde, Chad and South Sudan will tussle for a ticket to make it to the last round of Qualifiers for the FIBA AfroBasket 2021.

All three teams were handed wildcards with the games to be played from the October 22-24, 2020  in Cameroon's administrative capital Yaounde.

Cape Verde will be hoping they can worm their way to the final round of Qualifiers after six previous stints in the continental tournament crowned with a third place finish at the FIBA AfroBasket 2007 in Angola.

"WE SHOWED THAT WE CAN COMPETE WITH ANY TEAM IN AFRICA"
Ivan Almeida

 The Islanders who initially missed out sailing through to the Qualifiers for the 2021 continental tournament after losing a two-game playoff series to Algeria on aggregate are upbeat they can punch their ticket for the next phase.

"We showed that we can compete with any team in Africa," Cape Verde small forward Ivan Almeida told FIBA.basketball.

"If things are planned ahead of time, I believe we have a chance to qualify for the [FIBA] AfroBasket 2021."

"Representing my country means the world to me. I'll always try my best to help elevate the quality of the game in Cape Verde and show the world that we can play quality basketball, and also, that we have our place on the African basketball map."

Chad's lone appearance in the African jamboree was nine years ago in Madagascar but having the chance to rival with the continent's best basketball nations is an idea they've entertained for about a decade.

Pitted against Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in Group C in the previous qualifying round, Chad's two victories in four outings had dashed their aspirations for the next stage.

South Sudan are gunning for a maiden appearance at the FIBA  AfroBasket. A first attempt at getting to the Qualifiers had proven unsuccessful with a 74-68 defeat to Kenya and a 4-1 slate during the Pre Qualifiers in January.

But buoyed by another shot at their target via the wildcard, South Sudan's basketball officials are upbeat the tale will be different this time around.

 
"We have so many players across the continent and around the world who are doing very well and playing at the highest level so the future is very bright for South Sudanese basketball,"Majak Moun, a member of South Sudan's technical team mentioned to FIBA.basketball in September.

"We want to qualify for the Qualifiers in November. That will give us a chance to go to the AfroBasket."

South Sudan will be up against Cape Verde and Chad from the October 22-24 in Yaounde. The victor of the wildcard tournament will take on Egypt, Morocco and Uganda in Group E of the Qualifiers from November 27-29 in Alexandria.

FIBA