RABAT (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - Soufiane Kourodu has been huge for Morocco in recent years and, as his country prepares for next week's FIBA AfroBasket Zone 1 qualifier against Algeria, Libya and Tunisia, he revealed what motivates him to keep on going.

At the age of 31 and with numerous appearances for Morocco under his belt, the 2.10m power forward with an easy jump-shot can't hide the desire of playing his fifth FIBA AfroBasket.

"We believe in ourselves. As a team we are mature enough and we won’t be intimidated to play away in Algeria and Tunisia because we want to be in Congo-Brazzaville in August." - Kourodu

His numbers speak louder than his easy-going personality.

Morocco's top scorer (16.6) and leading rebounder (6.2) at FIBA AfroBasket 2015 in Tunisia, Kourodu has also had an impressive career with Morocco side AS Sale and is one of the men coach El Bouzidi Said will need to ignite the national team in the regional qualifiers.

The Zone 1 qualifier will bring together Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya in a tournament played over two legs.

The first leg will take place in Algeria from March 16-18 with the second leg to follow from March 24-26 in Tunisia. The teams that finish first and second will qualify for the Final Round in Congo-Brazzaville (August 19-30).

"Those teams are tough to beat, but this doesn't stop us from dreaming with the qualification, we have a huge brotherhood spirit," Kourodu told FIBA.com.

Soufiane Kourodu was Morocco's top performer at FIBA AfroBasket 2015

"We believe in ourselves. As a team we are mature enough and we won't be intimidated to play away in Algeria and Tunisia because we want to be in Congo-Brazzaville in August."

While coach El Bouzidi Said has added new faces to the 16-player preliminary squad, Kourodu feels they will be ready.

"There has been some changes, but the coaching team will be making the correct adjustments to give us a chance in the series. Everyone on our team knows that we can't play selfishly," he warned.

Even the fact that five key players are 30 or older doesn't seem to deter him.  

"That's not a big deal. We have players in their 30s, but we are still young. We can run, we can jump, we can compete, that's the most importance thing," he reasoned.

Why is his national team, which has registered some ups and downs over the years, so important to Kourodu? 

"I don't want to finish my playing career without making a major contribution to my national team," he replied. "I hope one day to able to tell my children and grandchildren that I helped Morocco basketball get admiration and respect. I want them to feel proud of my achievements, that’s what drives me playing for Morocco."

In what is often described as one of the best games of FIBA AfroBasket 2015, Kourodu finished with 19 points (including his only three-pointer in the tournament) and added 6 rebounds, but Morocco fell 69-68 in overtime against hosts Tunisia.

"It was unfortunate that we lost that game, but I must admit that was one of the best games of my national team era. We made some mistakes but in the end, we felt proud of our spirit of competitiveness," he recalled.

FIBA