NOUAKCHOTT - By defeating El Mina-Jane 52-50 in the final of the Mauritania National Championship over the weekend, Etoile du Nord not only won the local title, but they also moved a step closer to this year’s FIBA Africa Champions Cup (ACC).

The 12-team ACC is due to take place later this year, and although Mauritania's new champions will need to participate in the FIBA Africa Zone 2 Qualifiers to secure their spot in the Finals, local basketball shareholders are already putting together a plan to mark their return to the continental competition.  

The country's Basketball Federation, for instance, admits it will do their best to help Etoile du Nord achieve their ACC ambition.

Speaking to FIBA.basketball, Mauritania Basketball Federation President Youssouf Fall supported Etoile du Nord's presence in the 2018 ACC.

Fall also admitted that a competition like the ACC could represent a new mark in the revamp of basketball in Mauritania.

"Mauritania last featured at FIBA AfroBasket in 1985. Last year, we played at FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup 2017 in Lome, Togo. But we think it’s the right time to keep some continuity at international level, that’s the reason why we are planning to help Etoile du Nord take part in the FIBA ACC 2018," Fall explained.

Youssouf Fall, President of Mauritania Basketball Federation

Mauritania may be one of the lowest-ranked countries on the continent of Africa, but Fall and his team, are adamant that good things could happen sooner rather later.

He added: "In our rebuilding process, we think it’s also important to have good coaches and technical officials. We are grateful to FIBA for helping organize a training course for 104 coaches. We have also launched a local league for girls and U20 boys.

“We have put together a senior men national team which played a friendly game against Senegalese side University Gaston Berger a few weeks ago, and I would say that by 2019, we would be ready to participate in the FIBA AfroBasket Cup 2021 Qualifiers,” Youssouf Fall explained.

The ACC features Africa's top basketball clubs, and Morocco's Association Sportive du Sale are the current African champions.

FIBA