DAKAR (Senegal) - Hosts Senegal, Cameroon, Gabon and Rwanda will open their AfroBasket 2024 Qualifiers on Friday, November 22.
And for the next three days it will be all about chasing the highest positioning in the group ahead of the decisive Window 3 in February 2025.
Here's an overlook at how the teams are stacked up in Group C heading into the window:
GAME TO WATCH
Senegal v Cameroon This is probably the most highly-anticipated game of Group C between the Lions of Teranga and Indomitable Lions.
Very little separates the two sides ranked eighth and ninth in Africa respectively.
When Cameroon and Senegal last faced off in the 2023 Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Lagos, Nigeria, Cameroon prevailed 80-74 in the final to advance to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
With the final 12 on each squad boasting some of Africa's best talents, fans could expect another edge-of-the-seat clash between the two African giants.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brancou Badio - The 25-year-old creative playmaker has established himself as one of Senegal's best talents, leading them to bronze on his senior team debut at the 2021 AfroBasket.
The Valencia Basket star continued his stellar show with the Lions of Teranga, leading in scoring and assists with 13 points and 7 per game during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers.
During the 2023 FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament, he recorded time-highs of 17 points and 6 assists per game as Senegal fell to Cameroon in the Final.
Jeremiah Hill - The American-Cameroonian guard is the Central Africans' play maker. Hill powered Cameroon to a successful 2023 FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament campaign in Nigeria, a success that saw Cameroon return to the OQT for the first time since 2008.
On the global stage, Hill scored 22 with six assists as the Indomitable Lions stunned Brazil 77-74, a form many are expecting the side to carry to the Qualifiers.
PROMISING PROSPECTS
Coach DeSagana Diop of Senegal is also expected to lean on youngster Babacar Sane who, after two seasons with the G League Ignites is now with Salt Lake City Stars. The NBA Africa graduate already made his debut for the senior team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers.
For Cameroon, eyes are on teenage sensation Amadou Seini, the seven-footer center who inspired Cameroon to an unexpected second place finish at this year's U18 AfroBasket. Seini had the highest Efficiency Per Game (25.7) and averaged four blocks per game, while his best was six against Cote d'Ivoire in the Group Phase.
Elsewhere, Hermaman Boukosso Igouwe of Gabon who went from averaging just 1 point per game in the 2023 FIBA AfroCan, to his club's most efficient and leading scorer in the 2025 Road to BAL campaign, averaging 15 points in the Road to BAL West Division is also one to watch.
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FIBA