Cameroon captain Mbiandja calls it a day on international scene

YAOUNDE - Cameroon captain Priscilla Mbiandja has announced her retirement from international basketball after appearing at six FIBA Women's AfroBasket editions since 2007. 

The 29-year old guard, who has been a core member of the "Indomitable Lionesses" for almost a decade, admitted that she thought really hard about the decision to quit the national side and that now is the right time.

Speaking to FIBA.basketball, Mbiandja revealed that, "I had plenty of great moments with the Cameroon national team but to be honest my best highlight was when we hosted the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2015."

"I HAD GREAT EXPERIENCES PLAYING BASKETBALL AT EVERY LEVEL AND I FELT LIKE IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO MOVE ON AND GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE UPCOMING GENERATION."


- Mbiandja 

 Three years ago in front of their home crowd at a fully packed Yaounde Sports Complex, Mbiandja stepped up to the occasion and guided her teammates to the final unbeaten until they fell to eventual champions Senegal 81-66 in a well contested tie. 

She admits that not winning the title was tough on the entire team but still looks back at those memories and can never exchange any of that for anything else. It brought the team together like never before. 

 
"I thank God for every girl that I had the opportunity to defend the colour of Cameroon with because they brought something special with them. Every single one of them had an impact somehow on my life in a different way. I was blessed with awesome teammates throughout my basketball career." 

"I had great experiences playing basketball at every level and I felt like it was time for me to move on and give an opportunity to the upcoming generation," she explained.

Mbiandja, who last wore the Cameroon national team colours at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 in Mali where the "Indomitable Lionesses" finished in eighth place, is contemplating a coaching career as she plans for life off the court. 

"If the opportunity presents itself, I have already started working with an academy called La Pepiniere. I believe that there are still ways for me to contribute positively to basketball here in Cameroon and around the world. God has the last word. Although right now I am enjoying a lot of basketball as a spectator."

Mbiandja played at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2016  in June of the same year in Nantes, France but Cameroon fell short of the ticket to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

FIBA