CASABLANCA - The newly-elected chairman of the Royal Moroccan Basketball Federation (FRMBB) Mustapha Aourach has called on his countrymen and women to work together in the interest of basketball in the country.

Aourach was elected with 97 of the 185 votes during the FRMBB General Assembly Election held at the Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca, while Ahmed Mernissi received 83 votes of the ballot.

The new president replaces a provisional committee which oversaw Moroccan basketball in the past months.

One of the main objectives of Aourach and his team will be the development and broaden the sport throughout the country as well as provide support to lower division clubs.

"We will also keep the promises we made to clubs during the election campaign," he was quoted as saying to the local media.

"Nobody will be excluded. We need all the good wishes to advance," he said.

Morocco, which has only missed one AfroBasket (1997) over the past two decades, finished eighth at AfroBasket 2013 in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire last summer.

For the new FRMM chairman, the men's national team is one of the challenges of his chairmanship, although he admitted he has plans for it.

"First, we will recruit a national technical director who will implement the program for the national team in four years in order to allow the team to have visibility."

And, one of the challenges Morocco will face in the coming months will be to secure a place at the AfroBasket 2015.

Morocco is expected to take on Africa zone 1 qualifier, which includes Algeria, Libya and Tunisia. The latter is bidding to host the continental tournament in two years time.

"We also are aiming to build a competitive team," Aourach said.

FIBA