Najah wants Morocco to host a World Cup African Qualifiers 1st Round tournament

RABAT (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) - Morocco international Abderrahim Najah believes his country should bid to host one of the two tournaments in the 1st Round African Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

Morocco will take on Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Egypt in a Group C battle, which will see the top three teams advancing to the 2nd Round.

"If we play at home our chances of moving to the Second-Round are a lot bigger because our fans love watching us play at home," the 32-year-old power forward explained to FIBA.com.

"Look, we have a good group of players and we know how to stop those teams. Two years ago in Tunis, we lost to Angola and Tunisia by one point. With our fans supporting us at home, we'll be focused enough and I am sure we can beat Angola and Egypt."

And the reason for the race to secure one of the five tickets for African teams for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 is so special for Najah, is "because we have never played in the World Cup and we have one of the best generation of Moroccan players capable of achieving this historic goal," the 6ft6in (1.99m) forward explained.  

But before Morocco focus on the World Cup qualifiers, Najah insists they have another important goal to achieve in this year's FIBA AfroBasket. 

"It's going to be my last AfroBasket, so it would be great to finish with at least a bronze medal. The [Moroccan Basketball] federation only needs to give the necessary preparation, and we'll respond on the basketball court."

FIBA