Women's AfroBasket 2021 - Team profile: Cape Verde

PRAIA (Cape Verde) - For only the second time in the history of women's basketball in Cape Verde, the Blue Sharks have qualified back-to-back for the FIBA Women's AfroBasket. 

The mood in camp is to make this a norm and own their space at the high table of African Basketball. They have come a long way and are excited about the process of flying their country's flag whenever the opportunity presents itself. 

Here are some interesting details about Cape Verde. 

Team: Cape Verde.
FIBA Ranking Women: No. 88 in the world; 13 in Africa as of September 14, 2021.
Last participation in the Women's AfroBasket: 2019 (1-2).
Best result at Women's AfroBasket: In 2005, Cape Verde reached the Quarter-Finals and eventually finished 7th which until now is their best placing at the continental competition. 
How they qualified for the Women's AfroBasket 2021:  Cape Verde qualified after edging Guinea in the Zone 2 Qualifiers over two games. The latter won 65-64 in the first game before the islanders made a strong comeback in the second tie to win 68-59 and qualify for the showpiece in Yaounde, Cameroon. 
World: Cape Verde have never qualified for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and are yet to qualify for the Summer Olympics. 

Captain Jade Leitao made her Cape Verde debut in 2005

Youth teams impact: Still very much a challenge but there are plans to develop and grow a consistent youth programme that will produce a long-lasting chain of talent for the national side over the years. 

History/Qualification: Cape Verde made their debut in 2005 in Abuja, Nigeria. Pooled in a tough Group A with the two eventual finalists - winners Nigeria and Senegal. They beat Togo 76-44 for their first ever win at this level. 

With just one win, they did not make it to the Semi-Finals and settled for seventh place after beating Niger 56-51 in the classification playoff game. 

The Blue Sharks then returned two years later losing all their five Group B games to finish bottom of the pooling but redeemed themselves in the classification games to finish ninth after defeating Madagascar 60-57. 

Joseana Vaz

After painfully missing out on the 2009 and 2011 editions, they bounced back to feature at the 2013 edition in Mozambique where they once again lost all their five Group B games and recovered in the classification games where they defeated Algeria 65-45 and Kenya 63-41 to finish ninth on the overall table standings of the tournament. 

They missed out on the 2015 and 2017 editions and returned in 2019 in Dakar, Senegal where they beat Kenya but lost to DR Congo and Mozambique, and once again finished ninth on the final table standings. 

For the Blue Sharks to qualify for this year's edition, they are buzzing and are ready to build on their performance in Dakar two years ago. 

Key Players: Captain Jade Leitao is the go-to player for the Blue Sharks. In Yaounde, when the Blue Sharks lineup play at their fifth Women's AfroBasket edition, she will equally be celebrating the same feat in magnificent style. 

From making her debut at the 2005 edition at the age of 22, Leitao has been the core ingredient of Cape Verde's women's national team playing at all the past four editions and is set to lineup once again for her nation.

Jade Leitao is seen in action at FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2013 in Maputo, Mozambique

The 38-year old natural born leader has been running basketball camps back home and coincidentally, two of the campers are on this current final roster - the Vaz sisters - Joseana and debutant Jessica. 

Joseana, who made a significant mark on her debut two years ago in Dakar averaging 15.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists, will once again be expected to replicate that performance or even better it as Cape Verde look to progress from a tricky Group A with hosts Cameroon and Zone 5 winners Kenya. 

Power forward Ornela Livramento, who is one of the senior members of the team, will be looked at for her experience in the paint on both ends of the court. 

Rising Star: Jessica - the younger Vaz is one to look out for. At 19 and making her AfroBasket debut, the teenager will be looking to make a mark and follow in the footsteps of her bigger sister Joseana while also writing her own story. 

New  addition: Vandell Andrade has returned to the Blue Sharks fold for the first time since the 2013 edition where she averaged 12.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Her experience is expected to play a key role in Cape Verde's quest to make it out of the Group Phase. 

Antonio Moreira

Head coach: Antonio Moreira returns to the Women's AfroBasket for a third time in charge of the islanders and will be hoping that his past experience will come in handy to help the rather youthful side progress from the Group Phase. 

Outlook: It will be a tough outing for Cape Verde in Group A which also has the hosts Cameroon that will be looking to build on home advantage to once again reach the final as they did back in 2015 when they hosted this very tournament as well as Kenya who are rejuvenated and look unstoppable. 

FIBA