KIGALI/ALEXANDRIA - After several months of uncertainty surrounding world sport due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, international basketball finally fully returns to Africa with the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers scheduled for November 25-29. 

Three groups have converged in the Rwandan capital of Kigali comprised of a total of 12 teams in Group A, B and D while Group E will tussle it out in the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria. Group C with Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea played in Yaounde in the February window. 

Rwanda has qualified but what about the other Group D teams?

For all the other four groups, the top three teams will automatically qualify for the FIBA AfroBasket 2021. However, the case is different for Group D which has hosts Rwanda. 

In case, Rwanda is ranked first, second or third in this group, then the three highest-placed teams will make it to the final tournament from Group D. This also means that the best fourth-placed team in all the five groups, based on the classification rules of the Official Basketball Rules, shall obtain the last spot for the FIBA AfroBasket 2021, making a total of 16 teams. 

However, should Rwanda finish in fourth position, all Group D teams will qualify for the FIBA AfroBasket 2021. 

How to watch the games? 

The ongoing pandemic has forced tournament organizers to limit the entrance of fans into stadiums worldwide but there is a solution. You can watch all the action live on the following channels across the African continent. 

BeIN - North Africa and Middle East
Canal Plus - French sub-Saharan Africa
StarTimes - in all of Africa

All the press conferences will be live on the FIBA YouTube channel. 

Angola featuring Petro de Luanda players

Seeing as Petro de Luanda was the only team training in recent months, the Angola Basketball Federation decided that it was wise to name nine players from Petro de Luanda for the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in Kigali. 

Center Yannick Moreira, who is based in Greece, was supposed to join the team but the pandemic got worse and he failed to join the team. 

"We are very excited about this tournament. We understand that it will difficult but at the same time, we want to play well. We are happy to be here and play at the high level of basketball," Angola captain Carlos Morais. 

"And now with this pandemic, we have an amazing opportunity to play and we want to take this seriously. We want to play for our families and the fans back home in Angola. We look forward to starting well," he added. 

Luol Deng first federation president to coach at AfroBasket Qualifiers

Well, there is always a time for firsts. November 2020 it is. South Sudan Basketball Federation president Luol Deng will be in charge of the national team at the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers as the teams try to qualify for the final tournament next year. 

"Sometimes, we forget that he is a global superstar. Today, we were reminded when after our friendly game against Kenya, two guys ran up to him to take a photo. We are learning so much from him. He treats us very well and wants us to give our very best," Kuany Kuany, one of South Sudan's three co-captains. 

Cape Verde are not underdogs

Cape Verde by virtue of coming through the Pre-Qualifiers come into Group E of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers could come off as the underdogs but they have shown that they are up for the task ahead. 

Against hosts Egypt, an equally experienced Moroccan side and Uganda seeking a third straight qualification to the AfroBasket, Cape Verde have their work cut out.

If Anderson Correira, Shane da Rosa and Fidel Mendonca replicate their form in the Pre-Qualifiers, then this team will have a lot to offer when the games get underway from November 27-29. Ivan Almeida, Kevin Coronel and Jeff Xavier have been added to the team lineup to spice it up for these games. 

FIBA