MAPUTO (Mozambique) - Carlos Aik is the new head coach of Mozambique women's team, the country' Basketball Federation has announced. 

The appointment makes Aik the fourth (third Mozambican) coach to take the helm of Mozambique women's team over the last four years.

Carlos Aik is seen during the 2019 FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women

He takes over from Nasir Sale, who commanded the team to the fifth place of the 2021 FIBA Women's AfroBasket in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Other coaches that led Mozambique in recent years include, Spaniard Julian Martinez, and Mozambican Leonel Manhique.

Martinez led Mozambique to the fourth place of the 2019 African Championship in Dakar, while Manhique took the helm of the team during the 2020 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Serbia, where they lost all three games against Nigeria, Serbia and world champions USA.

Mozambique's technical bench is complete with assistants Manhique and former Mozambique international player Deolinda Ngulela. 

Deolinda Ngulela (far right hand side) is seen during the 2019 Women's AfroBasket

Ngulela, who was often regarded as one of the finest point guards in Africa during her playing career, isn't new to the job as she has served as Mozambique assistant coach  in the 2017 and 2019 editions of the Women's AfroBasket in Bamako and Dakar, respectively.

This is Aik's first major task since leading Ferroviario de Maputo to the 2019 FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women's title in Cairo, Egypt.

"Our top priority is to qualify for the [2023 Women's] AfroBasket. From there, our objective will be the [2024] Olympics, but we're going to need to finish in the top places of the AfroBasket in order to qualify for the Pre-Olympics," Aik told FIBA.basketball.

"With hard work, anything is possible," said the man who has previously coached Mozambique men's and women's teams. 

Aik's first international assignment will start next month during the 2023 FIBA Women's AfroBasket Zone 6 Qualifiers in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, where Mozambique will look to qualify for the Final Round.

Mozambique last finished on the podium of the Women's AfroBasket a decade ago when they finished second as hosts of the 2013 African Championship

The team's preparations for the regional qualifiers are expected to start this week with most of the home-based players. 

Current No.6 in Africa and No.27 in the World - according to FIBA World Ranking presented by NIKE - Mozambique have appeared in the last ten editions of the Women's AfroBasket.

FIBA