Morocco's Mohamed Choua says chances to qualify for AfroBasket 2021 remain alive

ANGERS (France) - Morocco sit last in Group E, but hope to qualify for this year's African Championship is very much alive, they say. 

Morocco head to the third and last window of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers later this month in Monastir, Tunisia, on the back of a worrying 0-3 mark.

However, the return of some veteran players like Youness Idrissi and Soufiane Kourodou speaks volumes for the team that want to turn the table and make a statement in Tunisia.

" WE CAN STILL GET A QUALIFICATION TICKET FOR THE AFROBASKET 2021, THOUGH IT WILL BE HARD BUT WE CAN MAKE IT."- Mohamed Choua

That hope is personified by Mohamed Choua who last played for local side Association Sportive Sale.

Choua believes that the players can turn the tide and still pick a ticket for the AfroBasket 2021 Final Round in Kigali, Rwanda.

The 28-year-old told FIBA.basketball that the spirit in the camp is high and all the players are determined to go the whole haul to make the impossible possible.

"The list of players for the February window has more experienced players so it will be up to the coach to make his decision with his staff. He has full support from all the players," Choua said.

He continued: "We can still get a qualification ticket for the AfroBasket 2021, though it will be hard but we can make it.

"All the players can bring something to the team. Basketball is a team sport where we need everybody involved and 100 percent in focus to make a good team and win."

The 2.00m (6ft 7in) power forward insisted that, unlike last November's window of the Qualifiers, his teammates are set to make a difference this time around.

"As you know due to COVID-19, it's hard to get ready and have a good preparation but all players and staff are trying to be as much prepared as possible. It was hard at the November's round where we lost three players during the competition due to injuries. I'm sure we could do better with a full team.

"It was not a disappointing display. It was just frustrating that we were not 100 percent ready that time like other teams were.

"The veterans were not there just because of injuries and lack of competition. We don't have a regular season in Morocco for the past two years. So it was hard for them to play with injuries and lack of competition."

As someone who played in Morocco's first Group E games, Choua says he would tell his fellow players to give their all and be proud to represent Morocco. 

"What we need is more competition and games in Morocco and a regular season to be fully prepared for competitions. The coronavirus has damaged really hard the sport in Morocco and basketball is not an exception," Choua pointed out.

FIBA