Can so-called small teams cause surprises in opening of World Cup African Qualifiers?
SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - In a weeks' time, we will find out if the so-called small teams can cause surprises in the upcoming first round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers.
From November 24-26, African basketball followers will turn attention to Yaounde and Luanda where eight African teams will do battle for six places in the second round of the Qualifiers (Groups B and D will play the first of the African Qualifiers in February).
It's hard to define small teams in the African basketball context, although those who have struggled to reach the FIBA AfroBasket Quarter-Finals in recent years can be described as such.
16 African teams
— Júlio Chitunda (@JChitunda) July 17, 2017
2 different competitions
2 draws results
Spot the differences?#AfroBasket2017 pic.twitter.com/EzBierUBwF
In Group A to be staged in the Cameroonian capital, Chad - who replaced South Africa - will go up against the host country, Guinea, and Tunisia.
In Luanda, hosts Angola will compete against Egypt, Morocco, and their neighbors Democratic Republic of Congo.
So, Chad, Guinea and the DR Congo emerge as the dark horses in November's first round of the Qualifiers.
What can they bring to the table? Tenacity and desire to change the course of history. That's the common denominator among these three teams.
Early this year, Chad almost upset the Central Africa Republic in a three-team tournament for the last qualifying ticket for the FIBA AfroBasket. Although they failed automatic qualification for the Finals, they have never given up.
And media reports coming from Ndjamena indicate that Chad - who last competed at FIBA Africa's prime tournament in 2011 - will travel to Yaounde with their most talented group of players.
Cedric Mansare has been key to Guinea's resurgence
After taking the first round of FIBA Africa Zone 2 Qualifiers by a storm in March - beating African powerhouses Mali in Senegal - Guinea failed to replicate their success in the second round and as a result, needed a wildcard for Finals in Tunisia.
If they keep the core of the FIBA African Championship, Guinea will be good to give Cameroon, Tunisia, and Chad a fight.
Then, there is the DR Congo.
This is a team that returned to the elite of African basketball following a decade-long hiatus. And they did it in style.
They not only caused the biggest upset at FIBA AfroBasket 2017 by defeating then-defending champions Nigeria, but they also went on to reach the Quarter-Finals.Unless, Angola, Egypt, and Morocco - three African powerhouses - bring their A-game to Luanda, the Congolese might open a new chapter in the history of African because, under FIBA's New Competition System, 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. This second stage will see national teams play home-and-away games with the top two teams from each group and the best 3rd-place team booking their places for FIBA's flagship event, taking place from August 31 to September 15, 2019.
Surely, no-one of the so-called big teams of Africa seems prepared to miss the chance to fight for the five tickets on offer for African teams for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.
Julio Chitunda
FIBA
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