Women's AfroBasket 2021 - Team Profile: Cameroon
YAOUNDE (Cameroon) - Cameroon have a second chance in front of them to try and win the FIBA Women's AfroBasket at home. Can the hosts cause a major upset?
YAOUNDE (Cameroon) - Cameroon have a second chance in front of them to try and win the FIBA Women's AfroBasket at home. Can the hosts cause a major upset?
As hosts of the 2015 edition of the tournament, Cameroon came up short in the final against eventual champions Senegal.
Cameroon are out on a mission as they are getting ready to host the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2021, which will take place in their capital city of Yaounde from September 18-26.
Their main goals include: Please their fans and make theirs the Women's AfroBasket 2021 trophy.
But they face a major issue. They are not known for their consistency. A quick look at the five past editions of the premier women’s tournament gives an insight into what they can and cannot do.
Since 2011, when they finished sixth in Bamako, Mali, they have been on the positive side of the curve, rising to the Fourth-Place finish two years later in Maputo and finally finishing as runner-up to Senegal in 2015 at home.
Since then, the downfall has been more than visible. They dropped to an uneventful 8th place in 2017, before going down another two rungs on the ladder of African hierarchy in 2019.
And in 2021, six years after their Second-Place finish, can they cause a major upset and leave an indelible mark on FIBA Africa's flagship event for women? Answers as from September 18.
Here are some key elements on Cameroon
Team: Cameroon
FIBA World Ranking: 54th (World), 7th (Africa)
Last participation in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket: 2019 (1 win, 2 defeats, 10th place)
Best result at FIBA Women’s AfroBasket: Runners-up (2015)
How they qualified for the 2021 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket: Qualified directly as hosts
World: Cameroon made it to the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Nantes, France, in 2016, after their successful run in 2015. But they availed to nothing, finishing third and last of Group B, with two defeats against Turkey and Argentina.
Key players: One name comes to mind when talking about the Lionesses: Ramses Lonlack is the one that could lead Cameroon to any positive result. She made her comeback with the national team after missing the 2019 edition in Senegal.
Ahmed Mbombo Njoya (right) has served as assistant coach to Nathosha Cummings-Price at Women's AfroBasket 2019
Head coach: Ahmed Mbombo Njoya has spent some time on the bench, serving as assistant-coach to Natasha Cummings-Price in 2019. He has been serving the same position at the Basket Lattes Montpellier Association, a club who has been finalist of the Eurocup Women in 2019.
Outlook: Drawn in Group A alongside Cape Verde and Kenya, Cameroon could easily find themselves into the next round. But they shouldn’t boast around, as too much confidence could show them an early exit.
FIBA