KINSHASA (DR Congo) - CNSS is making a third consecutive trip to the Africa's premier basketball tournament in Senegal (6-15 December), and as regular participants of the tournament, can they exceed expectations?
They recently lost their stranglehold on the Democratic Republic of Congo's Coupe de Congo to rivals AS Makomeno. Only a strong performance in the continental championship is the only redemption this year.
HOW DID THEY QUALIFY FOR THE AWBL?
CNSS were finalists in the Coupe de Congo, which led to them earning a place in the Zone 4 qualifiers in Cameroon (between October and November).
HOW THEY QUALIFY FOR THE 2024 AWBL
The Kinshasa-based club finished second in their Africa Women Basketball League (AWBL) Group C zonal qualifiers in Douala, Cameroon, with a 3-1 record.
KEY PLAYERS
Bintou Drame's 14.8 points per game during the qualifiers set CNSS on their path to qualification for the AWBL.
Gracia Nguz (12.5 points per game) and Marlene Ngobeleza (10 points per game) are seasoned campaigners. Both players can turn it on for CNSS when the occasion requires.
NATIONAL TEAM PLAYERS
CNSS has national team players in their setup. The likes of Nguz, Ngobeleza and Katia Mbelu have represented the DR Congo at the highest level. Hannah Amani has also represented Cote d'Ivoire in four AfroBasket competitions.
HEAD COACH
CNSS is coached by veteran coach Ade Koko, who has led the team to three FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women (which preceded the WBLA), before guiding his team in the 2023 inaugural WBLA in Alexandria, Egypt.
OWNERSHIP
The club is named after the DR Congo's Social Security rganisation Caisse Nationale de Securite Social.
FIBA