Cameroon and DR Congo to battle for FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019 spot
YAOUNDE (Cameroon) – Cameroon’s women’s basketball team will be eyeing a 13th appearance at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket this year when they matchup the DR Congo in a two legged tournament.
YAOUNDE (Cameroon) – Cameroon’s women’s basketball team will be eyeing a 13th appearance at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket this year when they matchup the Democratic Republic of Congo in a two legged tournament at the FIBA Africa Zone 4 qualifiers this weekend at the Yaounde Sports Complex.
Cameroon who finished eighth at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2017 in Mali are keen on securing a spot for the 2019 edition on home court as they face the DR Congo who have previously featured in the continental jamboree 14 times.
Initially a three team tournament, Gabon officially notified FIBA Africa on Thursday that they wouldn’t be taking part in the contest.
Host Cameroon have been in camp for a week with a rejuvenated squad. Only three of the players who featured in the 2017 continental bonanza Marie Ange Mfoula, Rose Abenkou and Amandine Ebogo are present in the team.
Cameroon’s former captain Priscilla Mbiandja who retired in 2018 has joined the team’s coaching staff led by Guy Moudio.
Assistant coach Ahmed Mbombo Njoya told FIBA.basketball how enduring it’s been to put together a competitive team ahead of the zone 4 qualifiers
“We’re working on a new project, trying to build a solid young team. It was just impossible for us to have our best players now because of club engagements for some and others for personal reasons”
"We have brought together some very good players from the local championship and others plying their trade abroad. The team is a work in progress but we are somewhat satisfied with what we’ve seen and we think they will be up to the task against Congo."
Yaoundé, Cameroon (FIBA AfroBasket Women 2019, Zone 4 Qualifiers)- Cameroon release a 24 players preliminary roster
— Belle Fiba (@belle_fiba) March 17, 2019
Yaoundé, Cameroun (Afrobasket 2019, Qualifications zone 4) - le Cameroun publie une liste de 24 pré sélectionnés @Belle_FIBA pic.twitter.com/hzIKGIB7cQ
The Democratic Republic of Congo fly into Yaoundé on Friday and will go up against Cameroon on Saturday 4 May in Game 1 before a second leg matchup billed for Sunday May 5 at the Yaoundé Sports complex.
The winner of both games automatically progresses to this year's continental basketball showdown.
To date Nigeria, the reigning Champions, Senegal (runners up), as well as Mali and Mozambique who reached the Semi-Finals in the 2017 edition are the only teams already qualified.
FIBA