MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Carlos Morais will not play for Angola at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup because of a knee injury, the player said on Thursday.

Morais was Angola's key player at last year's AfroBasket in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire where he was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

He led the 11-time African champions in scoring with 15.9 points per game and headlined the All-Tournament Team along with Egypt's Assem Marei, Souleymane Diabate of Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal's sharpshooter Maleye Ndoye and Morais' fellow countryman Eduardo Mingas.

The 1.93m guard was forced to sit out a few games for his Recreativo do Libolo club through injury during the 2013-14 season.

Given his leading role within the team, Morais' absence is a major blow to Angola's aspirations. He becomes the second player who helped Angola win the latest African title forced to withdraw after Felizardo Ambrosio.

Just a week after joining the Angolan national team, saying that he was feeling ready for the competition, it turns out Morais will not be able to play in FIBA's flagship event for a third time, since making his senior international debut in 2005.

Last month, Ambrosio, a power forward who plays for local club Primeiro D’Agosto, announced that he was recovering from a knee injury which would prevent him from playing for the national team this summer.

In a statement issued on a social media page, Morais explained his decision to watch the world cup from home: "Unfortunately I started feeling pain again in my left knee after a training session and for reasons of safeguarding my future as a sportsman, I have chosen to remove myself from the national team that will compete in the FIBA Basketball World Cup starting 30 August in Spain.

"It was a decision taken by me in conjunction with the medical staff of the national team. I also want to inform you that it is not a serious injury, but it has to be treated in a way that doesn't harm me in the future.

"It is with great sorrow that I see my participation in the national team that began in 2005 interrupted.

"I promise all my fans that I will return stronger than ever, and fight to honour our flag again," said Morais.

The Angolans are currently holding a training camp on Spanish soil, having lost three of their games against the host nation, Canada and Puerto Rico.

The Africans will play their Group Phase in Gran Canaria, where they will face Slovenia, Lithuania, Korea, Mexico and Australia.

FIBA