COTONOU (Benin) – The trail that has been set by two hosts of the First Round of the FIBA Africa Basketball League 2019 by gaining qualification for the ELITE 8 is one that Benin's ELAN Sportif de Porto Novo want to replicate.

For three days, starting on Friday, March 8, the Beninese side will have to subdue Etoile Sportif de Rades of Tunisia, Civil Defenders of Nigeria and BC Terreur from the Democratic Republic of Congo to earn a place in the last eight of the competition.

But they have three other clubs to slug it out with if they intend to rank among the ELITE 8 and to this, team captain Romario Akpachi says they are ready to rumble. 

"FOUR PLAYERS HAVE JOINED US AND THAT MAKES US STRONGER AND BETTER. ON COURT, IT’S FIVE PLAYERS AGAINST FIVE. IN ESSENCE, WE’RE NOT AFRAID OF ANY TEAM"

- Akpachi

Talking to FIBA.basketball, Akpachi revealed that his team has undergone intensive training to ensure that they earn a ticket to the knock-out stage. 

"ELAN Sportif know what is at stake and we have been working hard to make this a memorable outing for us," Akpachi said, adding: "We have prepared well and I can tell you that we’re ready to go all the way."

Akpachi, who stands at 1.60m (5ft6in) went on saying that ELAN Sportif will shock opponents who underrate them.

"All matches are important and we have confidence that we will make a difference this time around," the 25-year-old guard warned.

"Four players have joined us and that makes us stronger and better. On court, it’s five players against five. In essence, we’re not afraid of any team. Any team that has Romaric Quenum, Emmanuel Lougbegnon, John Oweh and John Okito like we have would know that we're no pushover," Akpachi said.

FIBA