Players to watch at FIBA U18 African Championship 2020

CAIRO (Egypt) - Once again, talent and skill will be on display at the FIBA U18 African Championship 2020 when the games get underway on December 3-9 at the Cairo Indoor Stadium in the Egyptian capital. 

Youth basketball in Africa always presents an insight into the level of talent and organization a country has courtesy of grassroots development with the hope that this is a good foundation for the building of the senior national teams. 

Ahead of this year's edition, FIBA.basketball has compiled a list of three players that are expected to shine above everyone else if their pedigree is put into consideration. 

Rene Didier Soufane - Guinea

Influential in inspiring Guinea to third place at the FIBA U17 Skills Challenge 2020, Rene Didier Soufane has taken up yet another task to defend his country's national colors when he lines up in Cairo.

His ability to direct the team from the back court, his commitment to play good defense and the consistency he displays in a game, according to the team's coaching staff will be important as Guinea come up against perennial winners in Egypt and Mali as well as a very strong Senegal side. 

Moamen Abouzeid - Egypt 

Named as the Most Valuable Player at the FIBA U16 African Championship in Cape Verde, Moamen Abouzeid has since graduated to the Egyptian U18 team that will be looking to bring glory at home.  

The 17-year old point guard brings a lot of experience to the team having tested competition at the highest level of youth basketball on the continent.

His prowess behind the arc and attention to detail on both ends of the court gives him cult status on court but most importantly, his leadership and ability to stay calm in very tense moments during the game sets him apart from other guards. 

"It means a lot for me to be here with the U18 team. I was very honored to be the MVP last year but this is a new year and we have a new target. We will try as hard as we can to win the championship here at home. We know all the teams are good and that it will be hard but we are playing in our country and we are not afraid," said Abouzeid to FIBA.basketball in an exclusive interview. 

Mohamed Sidibe - Mali

A little over a year ago, Mohamed Sidibe was part of the Malian side that wrote their names in basketball history becoming the first ever team from Africa to make it to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup final in Greece. 

He averaged 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 points at the world event and will be very key to Mali's quest to defend their title and his exposure will come in handy at this level bringing experience in the paint especially picking rebounds. 

At 67ft7in (2 meters), his size on the glass and contribution to defense will go a long way in inspiring Alhadji Dicko's side. For a team with a lot of history, Sidibe is excited about this challenge. 

Ibou Dianko Badji - Senegal

Badji's exceptional talent will be on display in Cairo as the 18-year old once again lines up for Senegal at yet another youth tournament ready to conquer.

From a country that has produced some of the tallest basketball players the world has seen, Badji knows that the challenge ahead is a tough one but to be the best, one must beat the best. 

Senegal fell to Mali at last year's U16 edition in Bamako and are out for revenge at this year's U18 tournament seeing as some of the players make up both squads. 

Badji remembers what it feels like to lose such a game and revealed that this is enough motivation to work harder to emerge victorious. His leadership skills on court along with his blocking expertise will standout in Cairo. 

FIBA