YAOUNDE (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - Cameroon must play united if they are to clinch one of the five tickets for African teams to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

That's the message issued by the team's star forward, Kenneth Kadji, after the Cameroonians beat Guinea and Chad but lost to reigning African champions Tunisia when hosting the first leg of the African Qualifiers' Group A action in Yaounde.

"IF WE'RE GOING TO QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CUP, IT'S GOING TO TAKE 12 MEN, NOT ONE OR TWO INDIVIDUALS" KadjiKadji

After sitting out FIBA AfroBasket 2017, Kadji put on some impressive performances in the national team jersey at the end of November and clearly displayed what the "Lions" of Cameroon had been missing in his absence.

He had 13 points and a team-high 12 rebounds in Cameroon's opener, a hard-earned 65-60 win against a resilient team of Chad.

The 6ft 11in (2.11m) Kadji continued his show in Cameroon's second outing against Guinea in which he led all scorers with 20 points as the Lions trounced Guinea 116-78 in a one-sided encounter.

However, a 67-66 loss to reigning African Champions Tunisia in the last Round 1 game stopped Cameroon from topping pool A.

Despite the defeat, Kadji who plies his trade for Turkish outfit Tofas, appreciated his team's playing style, suggesting there has been an upgrade in the way the Lions perform on the court.