MONASTIR/YAOUNDE (Tunisia/Cameroon) - The third and last window of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers has arrived with a number of do-or-die situations for teams chasing places in the Final Round in August.

While some appear in comfortable positions others will need to come up with their A-games to advance to FIBA Africa's premier basketball event in Kigali, Rwanda.

All qualifying groups will be in action this week from February 17-21 across two African cities.

Groups A, D and E will compete in Monastir, Tunisia from Wednesday, February 17-21, while Groups B and C will do battle in Yaounde, Cameroon from February 19-21.

FIBA writer Julio Chitunda breaks and ranks the 20 teams.

RANK	NATION
1		TUNISIA - When did the the reigning African champions last lost a game on African soil? Well, we have to go back to December 2019 when the Tunisians conceded two straight defeats to Egypt and Angola in the last window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers. Yet they advanced to the China 2019 showdown thanks to a 10-2 mark.  Since then, Tunisia look solid, dominant with an impressive team chemistry. Now playing their last three games of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in their city of Monastir may just mean business as usual. Tunisia lead Group A with a 3-0.
2		EGYPT haven't been so consistent in years. They don't really have a star player, which makes the Pharaohs even stronger. The return of experienced Haytham Khalifa, who missed the First Round of the Qualifiers due to a an injury and the addition of Ahmed Khalaf significantly boost the Egyptians' frontcourts. And trouncing Rwanda 84-49 in a warm-up game on Sunday, February 14, just signals the Egyptian's rhythm. Egypt top their group with a 3-0 mark.
3		CAMEROON - Losing to Cote d'Ivoire in their backyard in the First Round of Group C was an unexpected event for the 'Indomitable Lions', now with the return of head coach Lazare Adie Ngono and possible addition of guard Jeremy Nzeulie, who sat out the first three games, Cameroon emerge in a stronger position for a revenge. They sit second in the group with a 2-1.
4		COTE D'IVOIRE may not count with the services of Guy Edy for this window of the Qualifiers, but if Charles Abouo and Souleyman Diabate are available as the country's Basketball Federation reported, then, the 'Elephants' can cause some more damage in Yaounde, and, surely, they will do everything they can to protect they 3-0 lead in Group C.
5		NIGERIA - The highest-ranked team in Africa head to Monastir with a relatively new team. The D'Tigers will be coached by Mfon Udofia, who replaces Mike Brown for this window of the Qualifiers.  The Nigerians comfortably lead Group D with a 3-0, and the expectation is to seen them stay perfect. Can they?
6		SENEGAL - Even though the Senegalese will be under the tutelage of Pabi Gueye, who temporarily replaced Boniface Ndong, the 'Lions' present enough power with the reportedly return of Ibrahima Faye, and addition of veteran and experienced forward Mouhammad Faye. The Senegalese outplayed their Group B opponents in style in the First Round of the Qualifiers, and they are expected to remain as dominant this week. They register a 3-0.
7		DR CONGO - If the additions of Christian Eyenga and Herve Kabasele are to be confirmed as suggested by the team's preliminary squad, which also includes Jordan Sakho, Ruphin Kayembe and Myck Kabongo, this team is good enough to compete for Group A's first place with hosts Tunisia.
8		SOUTH SUDAN - Team to watch alert!! South Sudan's size and athleticism is unquestionable, and head coach Luol Deng's skill set has proven vital in the First Round.  Now, they added even more powerfire with the possible arrivals of Peter Jok, Nuni Omot and Deng Riak.  Stay tuned for an unmissable clash against Nigeria on Wednesday, February 17.
9		ANGOLA - It remains to be seen how former African champions Angola can cope without Yanick Moreira once again. The Angolans struggled to deal with Senegal's towering frontcourt in their Group B's First Round clash in November, and although they expanded their selection to other local teams other than Petro de Luanda, nothing really indicates that Angola can overcome Senegal at the top of their group. Even Kenya now poses a threat to the Angolans.
10		The CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC appear in a strong position to secure one of Group A's three spots for the Final Round, especially because they look better-quipped than Madagascar, but beating DR Congo and Tunisia seems a tough call for the former African champions.
11		MALI - Two names ring the bell when it comes to new additions to the Malian squad: Malian-American Drake Reed and Sagaba Konate, who last featured for his country at the FIBA U18 African Championship 2014. Drissa Ballo, a 2.11m (6ft 11in) center, who last played Mali in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers, is also expected to make his presence felt in the paint.
12		UGANDA - The 'Silverbacks' as the Ugandan team are known in basketball circles sit second in Group E for three good reasons: Tenacity, discipline and determination to return to the AfroBasket for a third straight time. Can they do it? Sure they can, especially if both Robinson Opong and Ishmail Wainright remain as hot as they were in the First Round in November.
13		CAPE VERDE - Playing without Ivan Almeida, who suffered an injury and is expected to sit out for four weeks, may be an uphill task for the islanders of Cape Verde, but the return of lethal shooter Shane da Rosa, who powered the team in the three-nation Invitational Tournament in October gives them hope in their Group E journey.
14		MOROCCO - The Moroccans lost all their Group E games so far, but things look promising for this week, especially with the addition of 2.10m (6ft 10in) center Soufiane Kourdou who missed out the First Round of the Qualifiers due to injury. His size may vital against smaller lineups Cape Verde and Uganda.
15		KENYA - The return of 2.11m (6ft 11in) center Tom Wamukota, who sat out the  First Round of the Qualifiers, is a massive boost for the Kenyans, who sit third in Group B with a 1-2 mark. The chances of Kenya qualify for their first African Championship in 28 years are more realistic than ever.
16		EQUATORIAL GUINEA - Short-handed in the First Round of Group C, Equatorial Guinea managed to come up with an important win over Guinea. It remains to be seen if they can prevail and protect their 1-2 mark. If Equatorial Guinea qualify to the Final Round it will be their first-ever AfroBasket appearance.
17		GUINEA - Former Egypt head coach Zeljko Zecevic has replaced Michel Perrin at the helm of Guinea, but questions remain if they can bounce back and finish in first three places of Group C, which would be good enough to advance to Final Round.  Guinea Basketball Federation has recently announced a preliminary squad, which included a number of experienced players vying to return to African Championship for the second straight time.
18		MADAGASCAR may have added some fresh legs to their squad, but beating Tunisia, DR Congo and Central African Republic seems a tough call for the islanders. However, they remain adamant about their Group E chances.
19		RWANDA - Things have been tough for Rwanda in recent times. After parting ways with Serbian play-caller Vladimir Bosnjak straight after the First Round of the Qualifiers, the Rwandans have been trying to rebuild under head coach Henry Mwinuka. So far, an 84-49 defeat to Egypt in a warm-up game didn't seem great.
20		MOZAMBIQUE - The absence of point guard Pio Matos, who suffered a foot injury last week was a major blow for the Mozambicans' AfroBasket 2021 aspirations. To reverse a 0-3 mark in Group B seems quite a challenge for a team that hasn't missed the last ten FIBA AfroBasket editions.

*The power rankings are entirely subjective and is in no way a true, accurate ranking systems. All comments are purely those of the author.

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