FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 - Group A Preview

BAMAKO (FIBA AfroBasket Women 2017) – FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 is only a few hours away and as usual 12 national teams divided into two groups – A and B will be competing for the biggest crown in women’s basketball in Africa.

At stake too is a place at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018 in Spain with the finalists punching in an automatic ticket to represent the African continent.

Here is an in-depth look at Group A.

A keen look at both groups indicates that this is the lesser competitive group of the two comprised of two-time African champions Angola, 2007 winners Mali, 2015 finalists Cameroon along with Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire and Central African Republic.

ANGOLA

A return to Bamako brings back good memories for the Angolans who won their maiden title in Mali back in 2011 where they only lost to Senegal en route to this prestigious trophy. 

That familiar faces that achieved this memorable feat are still apart of the squad to play in Mali is quite an incredible achievement. 

Fineza Eusebio, Luisa Tomas, Ngiendula Filipe, Felizarda Jorge, Sonia Guadalupe and Cristina Matiquite are still part of the fabric and with them comes massive experience that will definitely come into play. 

Perhaps the outright favorite in this group at the 2017 edition, Angola come into this edition with both experience and form compared to their opponents. 

The availability of point guard Italee Lucas means that Angola have added a dependable figure to their equation and indeed one that is expected to shake and direct their storyline. 

Named Most Valuable Player of the 2017 Angolan Championship, the US-born Lucas has already shown her worth at Angolan champions InterClube de Luanda. 

CAMEROON

Finalists at the 2015 edition, Cameroon will be looking to better their performance two years ago by once again challenging for the title with a young and dynamic team. 

After their excellence on home court, everyone will take Cameroon as serious title contenders considering their record over the past two editions where they have established 12 wins and just four losses. 

It is very evident that Cameroon along with Angola and hosts Mali will be the clear favorites in this group with Tunisia, Cote d'Ivoire and CAF fighting for the fourth slot into the Quarter-Finals. 

A cast led by the dependable captain Priscilla Mbiandja including Ramses Lonlack, Ade Achiri and Marie Ange Mfoula will be looking to win their first ever continental crown and a place in Spain along with the world's best teams. 

MALI

It has been a decade since Mali won the African trophy but they have finished on the podium twice in 2009 and 2011. 

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd will motivate the West Africans to produce a remarkable performance as they look to revamp their status on the African continent. 

Enviable results at the youth tournaments has invited questions on why the senior team has not achieved much in recent years. 

With their U16 Women's team winning an unprecedented five straight trophies, the senior Malian women's side find themselves under immense pressure to perform on the big stage. 

In the youngster Djeneba N'Diaye along with experienced names like Naignouma Coulibaly and Djenebou Sissoko, Mali look like the team to beat at this year's edition. 

A depiction of a strong, physical and immensely talented side, this Malian squad will cause problems for their opponents and rightly so as they seek for glory. 

However, they find themselves coming up against history. No host nation has won the FIBA Women's AfroBasket since 2005. 

TUNISIA

Tunisia are making their first appearance at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket since 2011 and qualified for this edition after Morocco did not turn up for the qualifying tournament. 

They will need to dig deep to create a ripple effect but qualifying for the last eight will be a major objective and thereafter any positive results will be much appreciated. 

COTE D'IVOIRE

Cote d'Ivoire have qualified for all but one (2015) the last eight at each edition they have participated in for two decades and this will remain the target when they take to the court in Bamako. 

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Making a return to the FIBA Women's AfroBasket for the first time in almost five decades, Central African Republic will be up against history but this will be an opportunity to revamp their glory. 

FIBA