BANGUI - Isidore Embola has been elected President of the Central African Republic (CAF) Basketball Federation.

During Saturday's General Assembly in the country's capital of Bangui, Embola - currently the president of local club ASOPT - defeated front-runners Guy Maurice Limbio and Fiacre Ninga Loum.

"I want to make my contribution to the revitalisation of Central African basketball." - Embola

Embola takes over from Jean de Dieu Mageot, who headed CAF's basketball governing body the past three years but elected not to run for the presidency.

Although CAF - once a powerhouse in the African continent - last won a FIBA AfroBasket in 1987 and have registered continuing decline over the past few years, the new president remains optimistic that they can restore their glory days.

"I want to make my contribution to the revitalisation of Central African basketball," he said. "We must ignite our basketball and try to develop our players to the highest level."

At AfroBasket 2015, Max Kouguere led CAF in scoring with 18 points per game, but the Central Africans returned home with a 1-5 mark

One of Embola's first missions will be the preparation of the men's national team for the FIBA Africa Zone 4 qualifiers for next year's FIBA AfroBasket to be staged in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

FIBA