×
20 November, 2017
26 February, 2019
21 Sami Al Wariachi (MAR)
12/12/2017
News
to read

Morocco's Uariachi: ''Qualifying for the World Cup would mean everything to me''

MONTREAL (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - For an 18-year-old, point guard Sami Al Uariachi is living the dream of many a Moroccan basketball player.

Like the saying goes, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Such was the destiny of Uariachi and Morocco at last month's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers' Group C tournament in Luanda, Angola.

A delay in the arrival of the team's luggage forced head coach Said El Bouzidi to feature only eight players in their opening game against hosts Angola.

The situation presented an opportunity for Uariachi to step up and fight for Morocco's pride, on his senior national team debut.

"With such adversity, we had to give the young guys like me an opportunity, especially against a very talented Angolan team," Uariachi told FIBA.basketball. "It was not what we preferred but we had to deal with the circumstances. 

"We played really well considering the circumstances because we did not train really well. We could have done better because we had the games right there in our hands."

Morocco fell short 62-56 to the hosts but bounced back to edge out Democratic Republic of Congo 88-81 after overtime for their first win in the "Group of Death".

Bouzidi's side then came close to defeating Egypt in a hotly contested game that the latter won 67-63.

Morocco came out of the first window with one win and two losses.

"It was the first three games and we managed to win one so obviously we are still on the right path towards the next round. It was a good experience," explained Uariachi.

Morocco will resume their bid to play in a first-ever World Cup in June-July of next year in Egypt.

"I am very excited for the return leg. I know Egypt has really been developing basketball wise so I am sure it will be a great experience. For sure, the Egyptian crowd will certainly bring great atmosphere to the games," said the 6ft (1.83m) playmaker.

Uariachi - who is a first year student at McGill University in Montreal, Canada - is already dreaming of playing in China come 2019.

"IT WOULD MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME (TO PLAY IN THE WORLD CUP). I HAVE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT THIS SINCE I WAS A KID, ESPECIALLY AS A YOUNG PLAYER FROM MOROCCO." UariachiUariachi

Along with veteran players like Mustapha Khalfi, Zakaria El Masbahi and Adil El Makssoud - who guided Morocco to a fourth-place finish at FIBA AfroBasket 2017 - Uariachi believes they are very much in the race to claim one of the five qualifying places on offer for African teams. 

"It would mean everything to me. I have been dreaming about this since I was a kid especially as a young player from Morocco," he said.

The teenage sensation, known for his admirable determination and zeal even against the best in the business, showed why he was included into the squad for this tournament as Morocco seek to begin the rebuilding process. 

"Growing up, I always watched guys like Khalfi, Zouita, El Makssoud and Masbahi lead Morocco so to get to play alongside them in the World Cup Qualifiers was a surreal experience," he confessed.

Under FIBA's New Competition System, the African Qualifiers for China 2019 will be played in two stages. The top three teams from each of the four groups (A, B, C and D) in the first round will advance to the decisive 12-team second round.

The 12 qualified teams are divided in two groups (E and F) of 6 teams each.

The first legs of the Second-Round tournament take place during the fourth window (September 10-18, 2018), with the return legs to follow during the fifth window (November 26-December 4, 2018) and the sixth window (February 20-28, 2019).

The top two teams from groups E and F and the best third-ranked team will secure their tickets for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

FIBA