ROANNE (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - Cameroon will get a major boost with the return of Benoit Mbala for the second-leg of Group A of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers in late June-early July. 

Following on his stellar debut with the senior team at FIBA AfroBasket 2017 - where he did a bit of everything, finishing with team-highs 21.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game - the 22-year-old forward was not with the team last November when the Central Africans opened their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers campaign against Tunisia, Chad, and Guinea.

Nevertheless, Mbala kept a close eye on the events in his native Yaounde, where Cameroon claimed a 2-1 record in Group A's first-leg. 

"I did watch [Cameroon] games and the guys were actually very solid and did a great job. Offensively the team is very gifted we just need to play better defense. Now we need to be able to beat Tunisia," he said to FIBA.basketball.

Now, as Cameroon gear up to resume their battle for one the three Group A tickets for the 12-team second round of the African Qualifiers, the 6tf 7in (2.00m) forward reveals his intentions to inspire his national team yet again.

"Unfortunately I had obligations to attend in the first window of the African Qualifiers, but I am definitely planning to be there in June to help the team," said Mbala, who currently plays for Chorale Roanne Basket in France's PRO B.

"FOR ME, IT WAS A DREAM THAT I ALWAYS HAD TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY AND SHOWCASE TO THE WORLD WHAT I CAN DO. IT WAS A DREAM AND A GOAL OF MINE WHEN I STARTED PLAYING BASKETBALL. DOING SO WAS A HUGE MOTIVATION TO ACHIEVE MY OTHER GOALS AS A BASKETBALL PLAYER" - Mbala

Cameroon may have conceded two defeats in their last two meetings against Tunisia, but Mbala feels they can do a lot better than that next month. 

"Honestly, I feel like we have great chances to get ourselves qualified [for the World Cup] but we need to have a better training camp and if possible be able to get all players from NBA and Europe," he said when asked about Cameroon's chances of securing one of the five tickets on offer for African teams for the 32-team FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China.  

How Mbala managed to make his name heard on a talented-studded Cameroon side is the result of his childhood dream, he insists.  

"For me, it was a dream that I always had to be able to represent my country and showcase to the world what I can do. It was a dream and a goal of mine when I started playing basketball. Doing so was a huge motivation to achieve my other goals as a basketball player." 

And the prospect of Cameroon qualify for China 2019, Mbala says, adds extra motivation. 

"[Qualify for the World Cup] will show the world that we are not only known for soccer but also for basketball. It will be a very strong statement for us and I think we will be taken more seriously." 

He went on saying that Cameroon, as the only African country that can claim to have three current active NBA players, "simply shows that we can actually form excellent basketball players."

FIBA