TRIPOLI (Libya) – Angola holds the record for most wins in AfroBasket with no less than 11 titles and when they host this year's African Championship, they will do everything in their power to protect their home court. That's the opinion of Jilson Bango, one of the team's stars.
The tournament, now held every four years, runs from August 12 to 24.
We will do our best to make our country proud - Jilson Bango
Their winning streak came to an end in 2011 when Tunisia beat them 67-56 in the AfroBasket final in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The loss ended Angola's quest for a seventh consecutive title.
However, they staged a spirited comeback in 2013, defeating Egypt 57-40 in Abidjan.
In 2015, when Tunisia hosted what was then a biennial event, Angola upset them in the semifinals before losing to Nigeria 74-65 in the final. And since then, they have not regained their magic.
Going by the records, Angola have risen to the occasion every time they have hosted the AfroBasket, lifting the trophy in 1989, 1999 and 2007.
This year, AfroBasket returns to Angola and hopes and expectations are high for another title and Bango is excited to win gold this time around. He believes this is the right time for his country to return to the top of African basketball.
Bango, who currently for Turkish giants Fenerbahce, acknowledges in a chat with FIBA.basketball that "The teams that qualified are very good and they played well to earn their place, but we are very happy to be the hosts."
"We're looking forward to playing and then we'll do a good job because we'll be playing at home, we'll have our friends, we'll have our family, everything. Everybody's going to be there, you know, and I think Angola can win the AfroBasket this time around, not minding the likes of South Sudan, Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire. We will do our best to make our country proud.
Angola finished second in Group E of the AfroBasket qualifiers behind Tunisia, and Bango is expecting an exciting championship on home soil.
"I feel great knowing that we have worked very hard to get this far and achieve our goals. We have to do more, like the best we can do. I will have to work very hard myself and the same for my teammates," said the 6-foot-10 power forward.
On the benefits of the qualifiers for Angola, despite qualifying as the host nation, Bango noted that it gave the team the opportunity to get to know and understand each other.
"First of all, it helped us to establish good communication, defense and a lot more. We have to be on the same page, you know, because if we are together, we can achieve our goals. We can achieve anything."
Pointing out that Angola used to be a strong team and have won the most titles in the past, but don't have that fear factor anymore, Bango admits that Angola are going through a phase, noting that younger players are now making their way into the team.
"Yes, look, we are so young. We have young players. They are coming in with great talent, you know, we had to push, push them because they are very young. And then maybe, I don't know, maybe five years from now, and we'll be making history."
While he is confident, Bango would give his best for his team, he also picks Braz Macachi as another player that is sure to give his all. Bango describes him as a very good player who is strong and always ready to give his best even if he makes mistakes, he is ready to listen and make amends".
FIBA