Guinea v Cape Verde - one ticket for two teams vying return to Women's AfroBasket

CONAKRY/PRAIA (Guinea/Cape Verde) - Excitement and expectations are high for both Guinea and Cape Verde as the 2021 Zone 2 Women's AfroBasket Qualifiers draws close.

The two nations will do battle for the only ticket on offer for the continent's Zone 2 teams for the Final Round of the biennial tournament to be held in Yaounde, Cameroon in September.

The two-game series will take place in Conakry, Guinea from June 27-28.

"GUINEA IS A GOOD, TALENTED TEAM THAT PLAYS HARD. SO WE ARE PREPARING FOR A BATTLE WITH THEM IN ORDER FOR US TO MOVE ON TO THE FINAL ROUND."- Jade Leitao

These series will be a rematch from the 2019 Women's AfroBasket Qualifiers when Cape Verde bounced back in Game 2 to qualify for the 12-team tournament in Dakar, Senegal.

Guinea's power forward Batouly Camara was on the roster when her country missed out narrowly to make the trip to Dakar. Now, she says that this opportunity is one to make up for the disappointment back in 2019.

The 1.89m (6ft 2in) who last played for UCONN Huskies and is pursuing a coaching career told FIBA.basketball that she is raring to go give her best: "I'm very excited about the opportunity and we won't let this slip by. We're confident and motivated by the fact that we will be playing in front of our home fans.

"We hope to right the wrongs of the past and make these Qualifiers worth the while."

Baoutly Camara (8) - on the right - seen in action against Cape Verde in the 2019 Women's AfroBasket Qualifiers

Cape Verde, on the other hand, believe they know Guinea well and enough to make a back-to-back return to the Women's AfroBasket. 

Team Captain of the Cape Verde team, Jade Leitao says they are living nothing to chance to make the Final Round.

"We are very excited for the upcoming qualifying games against Guinea. It has been two years since we competed together as a team and we can't wait to get back on the court together to represent Cape Verde.

"I think we have a very good chance of making it to the Final Round of AfroBasket in Cameroon," Leitao noted, adding: "We have been in this position before. So, we know what it takes. Guinea is a good, talented team that plays hard. So, we are preparing for a battle with them in order for us to move on to the Final Round."

Secretary-General of the Guinea Basketball Federation Oumar Camara is confident that the Qualifiers would be competitive.

"For me, it is a great honor to organize this competition in Conakry. It shows the respect and trust that FIBA Africa places in us. We want to qualify to show that Guinea counts in African women's basketball."

Camara continued: "Having failed to Cape Verde in 2019 with a victory and a defeat this time we want to beat Cape Verde at home and qualify. We have very young players who have potential and we are aware that we can beat this very good team from Cape Verde. We want the qualification to motivate the practice of women's basketball in Guinea."

FIBA