TEAM PROFILE: Can Angola finish on the AfroCan podium again?
to try and become the first team to win the AfroCan at home, Angola will need to take every opponent seriously. One bad game is enough to end their dream of winning a major competition in a decade.
BENGUELA (Angola) - Angola hold an impressive home record when it comes to continental competitions, but the FIBA AfroCan presents new challenges for all twelve participating teams.
And, to try and become the first team to win the AfroCan at home (Mali finished fifth in 2019), Angola will need to take every opponent seriously.
One bad game is enough to end their dream of winning a major continental competition for almost a decade.
The 2023 FIBA AfroCan will take place in Luanda from July 8-16.
Here are a few insights about Angola.
Team: Angola
FIBA Ranking Men: 41st in the world; (4th in Africa)
Last participation at the AfroCan: 2019
Best result at the AfroCan: Third-Place
How they qualified for the 2023 AfroCan: Angola qualified automatically by virtue of finishing third at the inaugural edition of the FIBA AfroCan four years ago in Bamako, Mali.
Africa: Four years ago, everything looked to be going according to plan until they faced neighbouring DR Congo in the Semi-Finals.
Angola beat Chad and Morocco in Group C before defeating Algeria in the Quarter-Finals. But overcoming eventual champions DR Congo in the last four proved too much for Angola as they fell 84-78.
However, the Angolans saved the face with a second victory against Morocco (88-71) in the Third-Place Game.
Star player: It's hard to pick one individual from the Angolan roster that will try to succeed at the 2023 AfroCan, but Glofate Buiamba, Keneth Manuel and Bamba Cisse can become the difference-makers for the hosts.
Glofate Buiamba is seen in action against Morocco at 2019 FIBA AfroCan
Rising star: It remains to be seen who will stand out among the many top Angolan prospects picked for the tournament.
Head Coach: Former captain of Angola men's national team, Anibal Moreira is the man at the helm of the 2023 AfroCan hosts, Angola.
Moreira was part of Angola's coaching staff during the 2019 AfroCan in Bamako, Mali.
During his playing career, point guard Moreira went on to represent his country at three editions of the FIBA Basketball World Cup (1986, 1990 and 1994) and became a three-time Olympian (1992, 1996 and 2000).
Anibal Moreira (on the left) served as assistant coach to Paulo Macedo (centre)
Besides playing for African giants Primeiro de Agosto, Moreira spent significant part of his career playing for Portuguese side Queluz.
Moreira has led Angola to two straight Women's AfroBasket titles in 2011 and 2013.
He currently serves assistant coach of Angola men's team.
Outlook: Can Angola finish on the AfroCan podium again? One thing is certain for this Angola team: They are likely to face stiff competition in Group B not only because the team has never played official games together, but also because they lack international experience.
Angola won two warm-up games against a local club in Benguela (Casa Pessoal do Porto do Lobito), where they held a training camp for over a month, but their biggest test is yet co come.
As we write Angola only know one of their Group B's opponents (Mali) as the other one will be awarded a wildcard at a later stage.
Angola's AfroCan experience has produced mixed results so far. They finished third in 2019, but they won quality players such as the likes of Childe Dundao and a Jilson Bango, two valuable assets of Angola men's team.
FIBA