Proud Najah sees World Cup Qualifiers as a chance to transform Morocco basketball

SALE (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - Morocco have become an African basketball sensation in recent years, and that's the reason why Abderrahim Najah - one of the team's most influential players - believes they can make history in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers.

As an example of Morroco's recent progress, they headed to last year's FIBA AfroBasket as underdogs, and the North Africans not only upset continental heavyweights Angola in the Group Phase, but they went all the way to the Third-Place game, losing to Senegal.

Two months later, Morocco champions Association Sportive Sale stunned FIBA Africa Champions Cup (ACC) 2017 hosts Etoile Sportive de Rades of Tunisia to become the first Moroccan side to win FIBA Africa's major clubs competition since Maghreb Association Sportive de Fez claimed it in 1998.

And, Najah made his presence felt at both competitions. 

Najah is adamant, the future of basketball on the continent of Africa is theirs. 

I WON'T RETIRE FROM MY NATIONAL TEAM CAREER UNTIL I HELP MOROCCO BASKETBALL ACHIEVE SOMETHING BIG. I HAVE DEDICATED ALMOST 15 YEARS OF MY LIFE TO THE NATIONAL TEAM, AND EVERY TIME THEY CALL ME I FEEL PROUD IN REPRESENTING MY COUNTRY." - Najah

So, when FIBA updated its latest FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike in February, it came as no surprise that Morocco were among the biggest winners, becoming No. six team in Africa.

"We have been working very hard as a national team. We have been making a lot of sacrifices to be in the position we are now, but it's been worth it," the 6ft6in (1.99m) forward admitted to FIBA.basketball.

And although Morocco last November won only one of their three FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers Group C games in Angola, Najah remains adamant that they are good enough to secure one of the group's three places and advance to the 12-team second round in September.

But first, they need to pass their group's second-leg next month in Alexandria, Egypt.

"No disrespect to Angola, Egypt and DR Congo [which form Group C], but we believe we now play like a top-4 team in Africa," he noted.

"We have a number of talented young players eager to transform the image of Morocco basketball for good, our fans are passionate, and we believe in ourselves."

Some of the players Najah refers to include point guard Ali Lahrichi, small forwards Mouhamed Choua and Reda Ali Harras, who are all under 25. 

Although Morocco never played at a major world basketball tournament, the 33-year-old Najah feels this is about to change, insisting that they stand realistic chances to contend for one of the five tickets on offer for African teams for the 32-team FIBA Basketball World Cup next year in China. 

"I won't retire from my national team career until I help Morocco basketball achieve something big. I have dedicated almost 15 years of my life to the national team, and every time they call me I fell proud in representing my country," he concluded.

FIBA