Reaching Women's World Cup the ultimate goal for Cameroon's Lonlack

BERTOUA (FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017) - Ramses Lonlack has been phenomenal for Cameroon in recent years but she admits there is still something missing to put her national team among the best in the world.

Runners-up as hosts of FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2015, Cameroon have become a continental powerhouse in the making.

And, much of their rise has been credited to a group of players led by Lonlack, an electrifying and fearless shooting guard, who is aiming big at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 taking place in Mali in August 18-27.

"In this tournament anything is achievable. AfroBasket has grown worldwide and the competition is getting harder. Cameroon will be ready to fight and get one of the World Cup tickets." - Lonlack

By leading the team in scoring at last summer's FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) as well as becoming the country's top scorer when they hosted Africa's biggest women's competition two years ago, Lonlack is arguably the face of Cameroon women's basketball.

So it came as no surprise that European clubs came calling for her. The former Memphis University ace joined Instituto de Fertilidad Air Europa in Spain's second tier during the 2015-16 season before playing for Portuguese side Quinta dos Lombos this past campaign.

Ramses Lonlack (second from right) was named to the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2015 All-Star team

So, what comes next for Lonlack? FIBA.basketball asked her. 

"Going back to Spain [for FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018] is my ultimate goal. Playing in Spain, in front of some fans is always exciting," she explained.

Cameroon would need a successful FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 Group A campaign against hosts Mali, Angola, Tunisia and Cote d'Ivoire in order to dream of securing one of the two tickets for African teams for Spain 2018.

"In this tournament anything is achievable," Lonlack noted. "AfroBasket has grown worldwide and the competition is getting harder. Cameroon will be ready to fight and get one of the World Cup tickets." 

"Group A will be challenging because Mali is playing home. Angola will come back stronger than ever, Tunisia have been improved year by year. A wild card team isn't known yet but you can't sleep on any team in this competition," the Bertoua native warned.

Lonlack went on to explain the meaning of representing her country internationally.

"Being a face of Cameroon's national team is more than pressure. [It's] a pressure that I will handle like I did in 2013 and 2015," said the 28-year-old. "It is very important for me to be consistent, to be that leader that Cameroon and my teammates want me to be. Representing my country is always an honor. I wear those colors with pride and respect."

FIBA