LUANDA (FIBA Africa Champions Cup 2017) – Following the absence of the 2016 FIBA Africa  champions Cup winners Al Ahly, Angolan giants Sport Libolo e Benfica are the outright pre-tournament title favorites ahead of the 2017 edition slated for December 11-20 in Rades, Tunisia.

Their range of expertise comes down to the massive pedigree of individual players but also as a team having reached the Final last year in Cairo and losing by a basket but now they are eager to make amends.

On their armory list for every player is growing a large beard not withstanding the demands that come with the November movement for it continues even through December as they eye their fifth African trophy.

Seasoned forward Reggie Moore, who is fresh from helping Angola win all their three games to top Group C in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers, started the beard movement in the Libolo side.

Apart from believing that growing beards are a sign of maturity and responsibility, Moore is convinced that in there lies their secret. 

“I am the one that started the beards and everyone else followed. I won’t cut it until after the Finals. Well, when you have a beard, it depicts maturity,” Moore told FIBA.basketball. 

“We want to win by two points instead of lose by two points. This is my first year with this team so I want to rectify that little mistake they had last year."- Moore 

The 36-year old forward explained that, "We changed the whole team. We have a new team so we are not even thinking about next year. We are going to Tunisia and we want to win.”

Moore alongside experienced players like Olimpio Cipriano, Roberto Fortes and Eduardo Mingas who are fresh from helping Angola top the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers Group C against tough nations in Egypt, Morocco and Democratic Republic of Congo will combine to make a case for themselves. 

Sport Libolo e Benfica at the FIBA ACC 2017 Zone 6 Qualifiers in Gaborone, Botswana

“We have experience from last year. When you lose like that, that sticks with you and you do not want to make the same mistake twice. That is what we will bring with us, the memory of last year and the fear of not wanting that to happen again."

“We want to win by two points instead of lose by two points. This is my first year with this team so I want to rectify that little mistake they had last year, help the team and we have some new players." 

"We have 4-5 guys coming in. We all know each other. We like each other and the coach is one of the best,"Moore said

Raul Duarte's side made their intentions known at the FIBA Africa Zone 6 Qualifiers in Botswana in October going unbeaten but the Angolan tactician wants the biggest crown - to sit at the high table of African basketball. 

Libolo, who won their first and only African trophy in 2014 in Tunisia will be hoping that the same destiny awaits them in this edition. 

FIBA