Afrobasket 2021 Preview (The Favourites)

Tunisia

The defending champions head into Afrobasket 2021, looking to cement their claim as the most
performant men’s side on the continent over the last decade. After a maiden appearance on the
international stage at the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Tunisia has not looked backed, winning
Afrobasket 2011 and 2017 as well as finishing third at the 2015 edition. Tunisia also participated in
the 2012 and 2019 Basketball World Cup. The key to the Carthage Eagles success has been
continuity. Former NBA stalwart Salah Mejiri, Makam Ben Romdhane, Mourad El Mabrouk, Slimane
Radhouane and Mohamed Hadidane are all carry overs from the 2011 success in Madagascar. While
heart and soul of the Tunisian team lies with above mentioned players, 28 year old Omar Abada,
who reached the finals of the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in May with US
Monastir and made the All-BAL team, will provide much needed energy and athleticism for the
team. He will be helped by former UCLA standout, Michael Roll, who returns to the team after
missing out on Afrobasket 2017, because he signed with Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv….which the
government and federation weren’t too happy about, since they have acrimonious relations with Israel.
Tunisia finished 6-0 during qualifiers, and although they lost at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament
to Brazil and Croatia, their participation served as a tune up for Afrobasket. In addition, Tunisia,
handily beat Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo, at a three team tournament held
in Tunis, and also defeated South Sudan in their last friendly in Kigali.

Whose Missing: Nobody. Everyone is here.

Prediction: Tunisia is in it to win it. Any other result would be a major disappointment.

Senegal

The Teranga Lions enter Afrobasket as a tournament favourite. Senegal has one of the best
competition pedigrees, having won Afrobasket five times. However, despite regularly fielding the
some of the most competitive squads on a tournament by tournament basis, the Afrobasket gold
medal has proved elusive to Senegal since 1997, when they won the tournament on home soil. Since
then, Senegal has finished runners up at the 2005 games and third at the 2017 edition which they
co-hosted. Senegal, won 5 out of 6 qualifying games to make it to Kigali. In the lead up to the
tournament, Senegal easily defeated Guinea, Rwanda and Kenya in friendly matches.
Senegal’s head coach, Boniface Ndong, the 2005 Afrobasket MVP Boniface Ndong, who will be
assisted by retired 12 year NBA veteran, Desagana Diop, have selected a roster that would give any
opposing coach sleepless nights. The frontcourt trio of eight year NBA veteran Gorgui Dieng who
currently plays with the Atlanta Hawks, Maurice Ndour, who played with the New York Knicks and is
currently with Zhejian Golden Bulls in China, as well as Youssoupha Ndoye, of Real Betis in the
Spanish Liga ACB, have the size, skill and experience to give any team a tough day at the office.
Senegal has benefitted from their excellent local youth development programmes and two players
who are products of this system, Ibrahima Faye from AS Monaco in the French Pro A and the team’s
rising star, Brancou “Papi” Bodio, who plays for Spanish and European giants Barcelona should be
treats to watch.

Whose Missing: Tacko Fall (Boston Celtics), Georges Niang (Utah Jazz) and Amara Syalla
(Filou Ooestende).

Prediction: Senegal is Tunisia’s biggest challenger for the top spot. With Nigeria sending a relatively
untested squad, Senegal will look to capitalize on this situation.

Angola

For the better part of three decades, Angola was the face of African basketball, winning 11 out of 13
Afrobasket tournaments from 1989-2013 and was Africa’s representative for the five Olympic
basketball tournaments held from 1992-2008. The club scene was no different as Angolan domestic
clubs such as Petro de Luanda, Primeiro d’Augusto and Interclube, regularly won African club titles.
However, after finishing runners-up in 2015 in Tunisia, in 2017, Angola fell to an astonishing 7 th
place. Although Angola managed to qualify for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, they had an
underwhelming showcase and finishing with only one win out of five games. However, the greatest
indication of Angola’s fall from basketball grace was the shock 73-74 loss to a virtually unknown
Kenya side, during the final window of Afrobasket qualifiers in February.
While Angola no longer instils fear in its opponents the way they used to, Angola boosts a cohort of
battle tested players who can pull a victory out of the most unlikely circumstances. The Petro Luanda
duo of Carlos Morais and Leonel Paulo provide Angola with the necessary experience to navigate
through. Moreover, the Iron Man himself, 42 year old Eduardo Mingas, was lured out of retirement
by Angolan coach Joseph Claros and will play a big role with Angola. Mingas and Morais, have won
four Afrobasket titles each. Angola has also managed to put in place a fairly formidable youth
development programme and will look to a younger Petro duo in Aboubakar Gakou and Childe
Dundao to take Angola back to the winning Afrobasket medals

Whose Missing: Bruno Fernando (Boston Celtics) and Silvio de Sousa (University of
Chattanooga)
Prediction: Angola is not the same but a semi-finals appearance is very achievable, however, a
quarterfinals exit would not be a shocker as well.

Egypt

The Pharaohs have not been crowned Afrobasket champions since 1983 and have underperformed
in the previous two competitions after unexpectedly reaching the finals in 2013. This year, Egypt
seems to have a renewed focus, after going 5-0 during qualifiers. The Pharaoh’s fortunes will be tied
to how well Anas Mahmoud can play. The Zamalek centre, who won the BAL title with the Egyptian
giants as well as the leagues Dikembe Mutombo Defensive Player award. Subsequently, he was
signed by the Toronto Raptors to play on their Summer League roster, the second time he has been
granted a contract to play in that competition. The former Louisville University player will have a lot
on his shoulders but the experience he has gained over the last few months could help the Egyptians
stand a better chance of winning their fifth Afrobasket championship.
Egyptian prodigy Mohab Yasser, who also won the BAL title with Zamalek and at 18 years old, was
the youngest participant at the tournament, could have his breakout at Afrobasket. Yasser, who
attended the Senegal-based NBA Academy and is set to play next season at East Tennessee State,
will see if he can

Whose Missing: Abdel Nader (Phoenix Suns)

Prediction: Egypt does not possess the firepower which Senegal and Tunisia possess but they
are a force to be reckoned with. Team chemistry will play in their favour, so we shouldn’t be
surprised to see them make the last four and even get a medal.