MAPUTO (Mozambique) - Mozambique have made a number of significant adjustments in the build-up to the Second Round of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers next month.

After losing all three games in the First Round of Group B last November in Kigali, the country's Basketball Federation and former head coach Milagre Macome parted ways.

A team consisting of three reputable local coaches - with Miguel Guambe at the helm - was appointed a fortnight ago to coach the team in the February window of the Qualifiers.

Desportivo de Maputo head coach Horacio Martins and A Politecnica's play-caller Jose Macuacua will serve as assistants to Costa do Sol's Guambe.

In the process, Guambe and his assistants announced a 25-man preliminary squad, with part of the group attending a training camp last week in Maputo.  

The new coaching team kept the majority of the team from the November window in Kigali, although they left out Orlando Novela, Milton Caifaz and Octavio Magolico. Ten new faces have been called up, and will battle for a place in the 12-man final roster.

And although Guambe pre-selected seven-time AfroBasket participant Custodio Muchate, the 38-year-old team captain last week announced his retirement from the national team.

Custodio Muchate first played at AfroBasket back in 2005. In his last appearance for Mozambique he averaged 1.7 points and 4 rebounds in 20 minutes per game

"It was a thoughtful moment and I took the decision to stop [playing for the national team] for personal reasons. I would like also to emphasize that this is the end of my contribution to the national team," Muchate said.

Meanwhile, recently elected President of Mozambique Basketball Federation Roque Sebastiao noted that "It was important to start (a training camp) early as it shows our commitment to try and qualify for the AfroBasket 2021. Between now and February we felt the need to give our players and the coaching staff a chance to keep active."

In order to qualify to next year's African Championship, Mozambique will need to finish in the first three places of their group.

After losing 79-62 to Kenya, Mozambique rank last in Group B trailing Kenya (1-2), Angola (2-1) and Senegal (3-0). 

And although, Mozambique basketball fraternity echoed their disdain after the team's latest results they remain upbeat about their chances of qualifying for Africa's flagship basketball tournament for the eleventh time dating back to 1999.

"Our goal is to qualify for the AfroBasket 2021," Guambe recalled.

FIBA