Morocco name skilled team for FIBA AfroCan 2019
RABAT (Morocco) - Morocco’s Basketball Federation has named an experienced squad for the maiden FIBA AfroCan 2019 to be played from July 19-28 in Bamako, Mali.
The 13-man list is headlined by a skilled quartet from Moroccan outfit AS Sale led by 34 year-old Sofiane Kourdou alongside forward Abdelhakim Zouita, veteran Zakaria El Masbahi and sensational center Mohamed Choua. The four men were cardinal in the Moroccan outfit’s drive in securing their first FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup in 2017 and a spot in the final of the FIBA Africa Basketball League 2019.
They will link up with former AS Sale club mate Mustapha Khalfi. 40-year-old El Masbahi and 39-year-old point guard Khalfi have both played professional basketball for more than two decades.
Moroccan 🇲🇦 team list for the upcoming first edition of @FIBA AfroCan. Games will be held from the 19th till the 28th July in Bamako, Mali.@FRMBASKET @BasketMalien#FIBA #FIBAAfrica #AfroCan #Africa #Basketball #Morocco #NationalTeam #CoachMills pic.twitter.com/yc3ZOgFDQA
— Coach Liz Mills (@Coach_LizMills) July 7, 2019
However there’s youthfulness in the team with the call up of Sami Al Uariachi. The 20-year-old point guard will return to action for Morocco after having suited up for the nation during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers.
Uariachi who’s a student at McGill University in Montreal, Canada will be hoping to win more hearts after impressing during the World Cup Qualifiers.
Head coach Said El Bouzidi has also handed call-ups to Mohamed Reda Harras, Soufiane Benhmine, Abdelali Lahrichi and Othmane Gana.
There’s room for AS FAR duo Hamza Foulani and Jihad Benchlikha in the 13-man roster.
Morocco 13-man prelimanary squad for FIBA AfroCan 2019 |
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| Sami Al Uariachi | Jihad Benchlika | Soufiane Benhmine | Mohamed Choua |
| Zakaria El Mesbahi | Hamza Foulani | Othmane Gana | Reda Harras |
| Mustapha Khalfi | Soufiane Kourdou | Abdelali Lahrichi | Karim Nisba |
| Abdelhakim Zouita | |||
The Moroccans are expected to gear up in Rabat ahead of the 12 nations continental event reserved mainly for players plying their trade in Africa. However, each team can bring in at most two players based out of the continent.
Hosts Mali, Angola, Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Guinea,Morocco, Nigeria ,Kenya, DR Congo, Chad and Tunisia will rival for continental recognition in the maiden edition of the FIBA AfroCan.
FIBA
