Preview of 2016 FIBA Africa Men’s U18 Championships

The FIBA Africa U18 Championships returns to Rwanda six years after it was last held here (in 2010), with 12 teams battling for supremacy from July 22-31 in Kigali. The winner and runners-up will claim the two places on offer to represent Africa at the 2017 FIBA U19 Men’s World Championships to be held in Egypt. With the week-long tournament starting exactly seven days today, Saturday Sport looks at all the 12 teams ahead of the kick-off at Amahoro indoor stadium. The last time the championship was staged in Kigali, Egypt were crowned the champions while Rwanda finished sixth out of 11 teams. Rwanda Conventional wisdom dictates that in these competitions, it is of paramount importance for the home team to get off to a flying start and seize control of proceedings immediately from the word go. It will be country’s third appearance and the second time hosting the games and coach Moise Mutokambali has admitted that it is big moment as well as a big challenge for his boys to show how good they are. “We expect to finish in the top four; we really want to qualify for the FIBA U19 World Championships, especially since it’s taking place in Africa,” Mutokambali said. Rwanda is drawing on patriotic pride for inspiration, with just one big name on the roster, France-based Lennox Niyitegeka. Algeria Their coach, Mohamed Abidat, has selected an athletic team with an average height of 1.92m. He has also included three players, to assist the North African nation in a bid to rule the continent. Algeria claimed third-place at last year’s FIBA Africa U16 tournament in Bamako, Mali. Center Abderrahmane Hailouf is set to take care of the boards, Mostafa Braik, a shooting guard who led the team in Bamako with a team-high 18 points, is one of the men that Abidat is looking to drive the team’s offense in Kigali. Two revelations from the former U16 team: Mohamed Akram Sahbi and Nizar Taleb have joined the roster. Tunisia As first runners-up at the last edition and ranked third on the continent, the Tunisians will enter the Kigali showdown as one of the frontrunners. Coach Aoun Monaem has selected an experienced team which includes; Akram Ben Salah, Ahmed Torjeman and Oussama Marnaouia trio that featured at last year’s FIBA Africa U16 Championship in Bamako, Mali. They will be joined by Methnani Wassef and Adam Rassil, two members of the Tunisian team that competed at the 2015 FIBA 19 World Championship. Mali Having finished third at the U18 edition in 2014, Mali coach Kaba Kante has chosen Moulage Sissoko, Mahamadou Diawara, Lassana Haidara and Blaise Keita (center) to lead their charge in Kigali. The quartet, with an average height of 2.2m, not only adds presence to Kaba’s team, but they also bring world competition experience with the Western Africans having finished 15th after beating Argentina and Egypt in Zaragoza, Spain, in June. Egypt The Egyptians will jet in Kigali as the reigning champions. They also won the title in 2008, and 2010 as well as the FIBA Africa U18 Competition in 1977 and 1984. This flagship is crucial for them as hosts of the U19 World Championship next year. Trainer Abouelkhir, who led the country’s senior team at the 2014 World Cup in Spain, has included Mohamed Ramadan and Mohamed Youssef on the roaster. Ahmed Khalaf and Essam Mostafa were among the quintet of players from the recent FIBA U17 World Championships. Gabon Gabon will be one of the tournament underdogs, having been awarded a wildcard to take part in this month’s event. The Gabonese will be making their second straight appearance at this age category championships. Ivory Coast They dominated the Zone 3 qualifier with four wins. Runners-up at the 2012 games, they will be in Kigali to improve from the 6th place finish two years ago in Madagascar. Benin Benin will be making their second straight appearance in the youth tournament. They benefited from a better goal-difference to secure a ticket despite finishing tying 1-3 with Burkina Faso. DR Congo The Congolese reached the championship for the first time since 2004. The team will be led by Kevin Nzemba, and because of their unpredictability, DR Congo will be the dark horses of the tournament. Uganda Uganda will be in their debut tournament in the FIBA Africa U18 Championships. They qualified in 2014, but later withdrew due to administrative reasons. They beat Kenya to qualify to Kigali. Zimbabwe The boys from President Robert Mugabe’s land secured a place in this year’s championships thanks to wins over Mozambique and Botswana. Though they may not be won’t be taken as favourites but they aren’t underdogs either. Angola Angola finished fourth in 2014, and this time round coach Manuel Silva Gi will rely on home-based players, because overseas-based players pulled out for the tournament. Despite this set back, Angola will still among the teams to beat. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Preview of 2016 FIBA Africa Men’s U18 Championships