DOUALA (Cameroon) - 2025 will be a landmark year for Cameroonian basketball, with the U18 team set to showcase their identity and potential on the big stage.
After finishing runners-up at last year's U18 AfroBasket, Cameroon have secured one of the two places available for African countries at the 2025 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
It will be the first basketball team from Cameroon to participate in the World Cup.
This is Cameroon's first World Cup and we must be ready for any team, so we need a good attitude and good preparation
Leading the young men from Cameroon to this year's FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland (28 June - 6 July), is former senior national team player Kevin Ngwese.
The 41-year-old coach will prepare the young lions for a showdown against some of the best countries in the world.
In an interview with FIBA.basketball Ngwese discussed the successful 2024 U18 AfroBasket campaign that got Cameroon to the World Cup.
Ngwese reflected on his team's impressive performance in Pretoria, South Africa, and explained how Cameroon got to where they are today.
"To say I was surprised to see Cameroon qualify for the World Cup is to underestimate our ability," Ngwese said.
"It was our aim (to qualify for the World Cup). I knew we had a good team and all we needed to do was to have good preparation... It motivated the players and we went far," he added.
The former Cameroonian international player also spoke on the lessons he picked up from their U18 AfroBasket campaign: "We learnt to be competitive despite it being our first competition. From a coaching perspective, I learnt about tactics, and studied our opponents and how they organize themselves. The players too - they have gained experience and can only improve from that tournament," said Ngwese.
The journey to the U18 AfroBasket Final was the stuff of dreams for Cameroon, and they will want to do the same at the World Cup, but before imagining a dream run, Ngwese knows preparations have to be on lock.
There is also the matter of the draw taking place in two weeks (31 January) to determine which teams Cameroon will be in a group with. It is also a prospect Ngwese looks forward to.
"In your mind you know you are facing the best teams in the world. You might face America or France... We must be ready for any team. This is Cameroon's first World Cup and we must be ready for any team, so we need a good attitude and good preparation," said Ngwese.
Apart from an up-to-scratch approach to the U19 World Cup, it can catapult the young men's careers to other spheres.
"For the players - they will never be the same. They want to dream beyond this (U19) World Cup. I'm sure most of them, in the future, will want to fight for a place in the (Cameroon) senior team," said Ngwese.
He also emphasized the players wearing the country's color with pride. "When you play for the green, yellow and red flag of Cameroon, it's an opportunity. You also carry the hopes of the nation. There are players from all over that want to wear the Cameroon jersey, so when you have the chance, it should serve as motivation," said Ngwese.
The players Ngwese will lead to Switzerland in June will not lack motivation because competing at the World Cup will be one of the greatest moments of their young lives and one that can open new possibilities.
FIBA