Five-time champions Senegal and South Africa have landed wildcards to take part in this year’s FIBA Africa Nations Championship (Afrobasket Libya 2009).

South Africa finished second to Mozambique in the Zone 6 qualifiers while Senegal were runners up to Mali in Zone 2.

Sixteen national teams will compete in the bi-annual event in Libya where the best three teams will qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship to be played in Turkey.

The event will be staged in the country’s capital Tripoli from August 5 to 15. Since the competition’s inauguration back in 1962, 2007 champions Angola are still the record holders with nine titles.

Senegal and Egypt have won it five times apiece; Ivory Costa and Central African Republic have two titles each while Morocco has managed one.

Rwanda, who made a historic debut in 2007 remain in the thick of things after finishing second to Egypt at this year’s Zone 5 qualifiers that were staged in Kigali.

Rwanda, the only East African nation to ever play in the competition finished 12th in 2007 and although winning the championship would be unrealistic, bettering their 2007 performance is certainly within reach according to Innocent Karuhije, an official in the national basketball federation (Ferwaba).

"I think we have the quality and experience in the team to break into the top ten this year,” the official said.

Teams; Libya (host), Angola (defending Champion), Cameroon (1st runner up), Cape Verde (2nd runner up), Tunisia & Morocco (Zone I), Mali (Zone 2), Nigeria & Côte d’Ivoire (Zone 3), Central African Republic & DR. Congo (Zone 4), Egypt & Rwanda (Zone 5), Mozambique (Zone 6), South Africa & Senegal (Wild card)

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