Tunisia seeking to end six-year FIBA U18 AfroBasket drought

 

MONASTIR (Tunisia) - Tunisians are actively preparing to return to the FIBA U18 AfroBasket after missing out the last two editions of the tournament.

The North African team, who finished seventh in the 11-team competition in 2018 in Bamako,  held training camp during the last week of June to fine-tune their preparations.

A group of 16 players, some of whom were members of the team that finished fourth at last year's U16 AfroBasket on home soil, answered the call.

The training camp came ahead of the 2024 FIBA Africa Qualifiers for Zone 1 countries, which Tunisia will host from July 11 to 14.

Hichem Ez-Zahi is seen here at the 2016 FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Men

The hosts will have to overcome neighbours and rivals Algeria and Morocco if they are to qualify for the 2024 FIBA U18 AfroBasket Finals, slated for August in South Africa.

Tunisia are aiming to make a triumphant return to this biennial event.

It was therefore to put all the chances of making the trip to South Africa on their side that the Tunisian selection carried out a series of regroupings, as Hichem Ezzahi, the new coach of the U18 team, explains.

"This is the third training camp of the year for these youngsters. These three training camps have given everyone a chance to express themselves within the existing structure", says the coach.

In the ranks are players such as Idriss Toumi, who averaged 5 points and 3.6 rebounds during the U16 tournament last year, as well as Elyas Zaabar (4.4 points, 2.2 rebounds), and Hamza Masrouki, who averaged 11.6 points and 5 rebounds.

Hamza Masrouki

Working alongside national men's coach Mehdi Mery, Zahi aims to bring a new style of play to the Tunisian team. "I took over the group rather recently. With the help of coach Mery, we're trying to instil a new way of playing in the youth teams," he adds.

As a result, Tunisia will be switching from their usual composed game to a faster one. "This is the face we hope to show during the Zone 1 Qualifiers and our future appearances."

This Tunisian team - desperate to make a comeback to the AfroBasket U18 - is already under pressure. "It is inevitable! We'll be playing in front of our home crowd. And it'll be a first for me at this level. We'll need to perform well," adds Zahi.

The coach believes that this squad will logically be called upon to follow in the footsteps of its glorious elders.

"We've noticed that the youth teams have taken a back seat to the seniors. But that's something that's going to change. It has to if we want to have a senior team that is competitive again," concluded Zahi.

FIBA