It's not over for Central African Republic after finish 0-3 in Window 1 of the African Qualifiers

BRUSSELS (Belgium) - The Central Africa Republic (CAF) finished Window 1 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers bottom of Group C behind Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, and Guinea with hope looking completely lost as to what will be their fate in subsequent Windows.

That however, is not one issue that bothers the mind of team captain Max Kouguere as he believes there is still hope and light at the end of the dark tunnel in which his team finds itself at the moment.

"WE ARE HUNGRY AND WE CAN TAKE A GAME AGAINST ANGOLA. AND WE HAVE GUINEA TOO.WE WILL BE PLAYING IN THE SUMMER TOO SO WE WILL HAVE TIME TO PREPARE TO HAVE A GOOD TEAM..."- Max Kouguere

As a player that has represented the CAF for more than a decade and still counting, Kouguere who stands at 1.99m (6ft 6in) in is not one to give up easily pointing out that there is still a lot his team can do to keep hope alive for a ticket to the World Cup billed for Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines come 2023.

Kouguere, born in Brazzaville to Central African and Congolese parents, 34 years ago and currently plying his trade with Phoenix Brussels Basketball told the media recently that the his country is not to be ruled out as he and his teammates are capable of turning the table in Window 3 of the African Qualifiers in June-July.

Reflecting on the games of Window 1 played in Benguela, Angola, Kouguere recalls that they had great expectations to perform well but things went the other way: "We came here [Benguela] to win three games but we couldn't win any game. It's going to be difficult for us, but we still can make it. We lost to Guinea by six points so we're going to come back and work this summer and try to beat them and have the points difference to qualify for the Second Round. We didn't play our basketball."

He went on further to state that: "Three years ago we were hot but now we went down a little bit. It's not how we play basketball. We have a new coach, new players, new staff, everything. A lot of young guys, the team is changing. I'm like the last old man on the team. I have played 10 years so I try to show the young guys and give them experience. But it's going to be difficult for us."

CAF lost by almost 30 points to Angola and that really hurt the team according to Kouguere: "We tried to correct the mistakes. We tried to step up and win against Angola. And the fans changed the game too. The fans pushed them against us too. We tried to fight. We wanted to win [that] game to improve the point difference and give us a chance to qualify for the second round.

"We know it's not over. Anything can happen in those three games. We don't know where we will play. But Angola will play away," he tried to console himself believing that on a different stage, they could spring the surprise they so need badly.

"So we are hungry and we can take a game against Angola. And we have Guinea too. We will be playing in the summer too so we will have time to prepare to have a good team and everybody be motivated and try to win two or three games and get qualified for the second round."

Being the oldest player on the team comes with lots of responsibility and Kouguere is not pretending not to know this and here reveals the kind of message he gives to the young players.

"My job is to show these young players and give them motivation to play for their country. We have a lot of talent and we need them for African basketball in order for African basketball to grow up. I tell them to play for our country. Let's go back in the day so we can win championships. We have history in AfroBasket. We have history in the World Cup. I hope these young guys will feel this history and make history again."

Speaking on how much longer he would remain on the team, he simply says: "I think this is my last one. I'm here to help these young guys and teach them. Once they are ready, I'm done," he concluded.

FIBA