SHEFFIELD, (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - FIBA Africa's decision to attribute the organisation of AfroBasket Women 2015 to Cameroon last week more than anything raised the hopes of the country - which is set to host the tournament for the first time in its basketball history - winning their first trophy.

While some social media users argued that it was one of the most significant days in Cameroon's basketball, others remained highly skeptical about the nation's capability of organising an event of such magnitude.

My understanding though is that the vast majority believes - and I subscribe to it - that Cameroon's turn to stand on the top step of the AfroBasket Women's podium became closer than ever since FIBA Africa's announcement.

Judging by what they have shown recently, it makes sense to believe that Cameroon has the potential to rival top African nations.

At AfroBasket Women 2013 in Maputo, Mozambique, for example, they beat Mali, Nigeria, but spoiled their own campaign by making unforgivable and unnecessary mistakes when they should not have, against African champions Angola, Mozambique and Senegal.

In that tournament, Cameroon's feat was clearly decided by lack of concentration.

In the Semi-Final against the hosts, they dominated and led for 37 minutes before Mozambique's Leia Dongue made a lay-up in the closing minutes for a 53-52 edge and the home side sealed a 61-57 win and rewarded home fans for their tireless support.

Cameroon left the court with their heads held high, although they saw their dream to secure one of the two places on offer for African teams for the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women vanish in a matter of seconds.

At the time, I asked Cameroon's head coach Alain Zedong to explain the loss.

"I have asked my players to control the shot clock and attack around 24 seconds. You can't take a shot when you are leading. I am very disappointed because I wanted to take this team to the World Championship," he told me.

Since FIBA Africa handed Cameroon the hosting duties of the highest women's competition on the continent, basketball followers in the country can now put their recent disappointment behind, and dream big.

But as Cameroon start to regroup and focus on reinventing their basketball programmes, only a first-place finish at the 2015 edition of AfroBasket Women, and subsequent direct qualification for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, would leave the country's basketball fans with a sense of relief.

So, last week I asked forward Nicole Jamen, one of Cameroon's key players in Maputo to share her thoughts on the national team's chances of standing atop the podium next year.

"As of the news on Cameroon hosting the Women AfroBasket 2015 competition, I am very excited to play in front of my family and some friends," she told me.

"I truly see this as a motivation to do well and all I want to focus on is keeping that trophy at home."

Until then, the country's Basketball Federation will only need to respond with professionalism if they are to meet the expectations.

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

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