CAIRO (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - With the heart of a lion and a deep conviction to always lift his side up, Angolan center Yanick Moreira is more than excited about the upcoming Second Round of the African Qualifiers in September. 

The 26-year old, who is Angola's highest performer in the qualifiers amassed 13.0 efficiency per game, 11.7 points and 6.0 rebounds on average per game, to clearly show that he is ready to take over the mantle from the veteran players. 

IT MEANS A LOT TO ME AND MY FAMILY BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY AT THE BIGGEST STAGE. IT'S LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME." -Moreira

Angola won all three games in the first window last November to top Group C also known as the "Group Of Death" and came into the third window needing just one win.

However, things got complicated when a relentless Moroccan side avenged their first window loss to the 11-time record African champions seeing them off 61-47 to put themselves in a good place to qualify. 

"I am really glad that I got to do what I need to do for the team because everything is about us as a team. Our goal was to qualify to the Second Round and we achieved it. That means so much to us right now," Moreira offered..  

Angola head coach Will Voigt said after that game that he used the game to give a chance to some young players in a bid to bring new faces to their side that has had the same names for over a decade. 

Along with Moreira are Jerson Goncalves, Gerson da Silva Domingos, Jaques Conceicao and Hermenegildo dos Santos who have been putting in a good shift so much as to impress Voigt. 

Moreira admitted that the future looks good for this squad and come the Second Round, Angola will once again attempt to qualify for the World Cup for an impressive eighth time. 

"It’s very important for us because we want to play against the best teams in the world and for us to be able to do that we have to play in the World Cup," he noted, adding: "It means a lot to me and my family being able to represent my country at the biggest stage. It's like a dream come true for me."

However, he is quick to point out that it will not be an easy task. Citing the ability of a team like Morocco beating Angola twice in less than a year means that they have to remain focused and not take any team for granted. 

His contribution as an individual will mean a lot to his side and it is the consistency that counts at this level even though he prefers to focus on his teammates. 

"It means a lot to me and my family being able to represent my country in the big stage it’s like a dream come true for me," Moreira explained.

He does not take the presence of veterans like Reggie Moore, Eduardo Mingas, Olimpio Cipriano, Leonel Ditulala and Divaldo Mbunga for granted. They have been the backbone of this team for a long time now. 

The 6tf11in (2.09m) center reminded his followers how much he is looking forward to September.

But he also feels that Angola have some to get better to secure one of two spots on offer for Group E teams for the Finals in China.

"It’s going to be tough for us but if we prepare ourselves well, we are going to be able to handle. We have a young team and great young players that are getting better and ready for this stage," Moreira admitted.

Whatever the case, Moreira and Angola will come out strong in September to protect their name as the most successful basketball team in Africa and send out a message to the world that they are coming back to where they belong after missing out on the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil. 

FIBA