Power Rankings time: What have AfroBasket 2017 teams been up to?

ABIDJAN (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - With just 24 days to go until the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 to be co-hosted by Senegal and Tunisia from September 8-16, our editors weigh in the 16 teams' competitiveness and chances based on their rosters and preparation plans.

RANK	NATION
1		It's been a week since Senegal - one of the co-host nations - have opened their training camp in Dakar, and head coach Porfirio Fisac has addressed the media to remind everyone that he never goes into a competition to lose. "I always play to win," he said. While Gorgui Dieng is yet to join the team and point guard Xane D'Almeida is still recovering from an unspecified injury, Fisac is currently working with 14 players. They are expected to travel to Spain for the remaining of their preparations.
2		It's been over a month since tournament co-hosts Tunisia started their preparations. So far they count a 3-4 record, as a result of a win and a loss against EuroBasket 2017 co-hosts Roumania, one win and a loss against Portugal, one loss against Europe champions Spain, a loss against France, which was followed by a triumph over Belgium.
3		If you are wondering why reigning champions Nigeria can't rank higher, it's simply down to the significant changes that the team has experienced lately. As we write, the only major announcement was the fact that Coach Will Voigt and his crew - the masterminds behind Nigeria's first-ever African title in 2011 - will not be returning. Nigerian Alex Nwora has replaced Voigt, but no preliminary squad has been announced just yet. One thing is certain, the Nigerians are racing against the clock.
4		The former African champions Angola had a successful tour to China where they won two four-nation tournaments against the host country, Lithuania and New Zealand.
5		The Pharaohs have opened their training camp with a group of locally-based players a couple of weeks ago. According to the country's Basketball Federation, USA-based players - most of whom student athletes - might miss out the tournament due to academic commitments.
6		Two preparation games against Brazil in Sao Paulo (August 15-16) should give the Central Africans a good start to their preparations. Luc Mbah a Moute and his fellow NBA Pascal Siakam are yet to join the Jean Claude Ntep-coached team.
7		The Malians have opened their training camp in Bamako two weeks ago under the watchful of head coach Moussa Sogore. They are expected to resume their preparations in Tunis from August 23. One thing that Ibrahim Djambo is certain of is that Mali have a lot of quality players. He recently explained to FIBA.basketball: "We are going to need to be together longer in order to have some good team cohesion. On our team, everybody plays somewhere else. We need to have some time together before we go to the FIBA AfroBasket. And more importantly, we need a good preparation."
8		Folks, the Central Africans already have Michael Mokongo, Max Kouguere and Jimmy Djimrabaye. So watch out this former African champions if Romain Sato, James Mays and Maxim Zianveni join the team.
9		Mozambique head coach Inaki Garcia has recently admitted that "this FIBA AfroBasket is going to be challenging for us because it convenes stronger teams than us. Senegal will play at home, and they have already shown their high level. It is going to be tough to beat them in their home."
10		Moroccan players contacted by FIBA.basketball say they are still waiting to hear from the country's Basketball Federation about the team's preparations.
11		The additions of former The University of Texas at Austin ace Mick Kabongo as well as 20-year-old Jordan Sakho from Spain's top flight ICL Manresa represent a major boost for the Congolese who return to the competition for the first time in a decade.
12		Uganda head coach Mandy Juruny is honest about the challenges they face in Dakar. He recently admitted that "the challenge will be tough but it will also be fair enough for us to compete favourably. We intend to do our best while at it."
13		The Ivoirian Basketball Federation is yet to announce plans for their team's preparations.
14		Rwanda have recently opened their training camp with 16-player preliminary squad, and according to the local press, "local players will be joined by their foreign-based colleagues at a later date as the team bid for their best performance in FIBA Afrobasket finals yet."
15		Guinea head coach Ousmane Tafsir Camara has kept nine players from last March FIBA Africa Zone 2 Qualifiers for their FIBA AfroBasket 2017 training camp.
16		Plans for the team's preparations yet to be announced.