SFAX (African Champions Cup Women/AfroBasket Women 2015) - Over the past few years, Tunisia have been trying to regenerate their women's basketball programme. 

One of the players emerging from that process is Houda Hamrouni.

The 20-year-old has been making a name for herself, not only on the African continent where she became a household name, but also on the world stage, which included a stint with Slovenian side ZKK Athlete Celje as well as playing at the 2014 3x3 World Championships in Russia.

Having Hamrouni continue to add to her international experience is what Tunisians point to as crucial in helping the country's women's game reach a higher level.

The 1.85m forward - who last played for local side Club Sportif Police Circulation (CSPC) in the 2014 African Champions Cup for Women (ACCW) in December in the Tunisian city of Sfax - feels she can do a lot more for the game, but insists the country needs a lot more than talented players.

For Tunisia to secure a place at AfroBasket Women 2015, which takes place in Cameroon from 24 September to 4 October, the team must overcome Morocco and Algeria in FIBA Africa Zone 1 qualifier.

I think Tunisian women's basketball needs to bring some fresh blood into the national team in order to achieve a place on the podium. - Hamrouni

Hamrouni was only seven years old when Tunisia last hosted the AfroBasket Women in 2001 and tried, for the second time in the country's basketball history, to win their first African title. Instead, just they like they did in the 1974 edition of the tournament, Tunisia fell short to Senegal.

The country's consolation was an appearance at the 2002 FIBA World Championship Women in China, where they finished last with a 0-5 record.

A couple of years ago, Tunisia missed out on qualifying for AfroBasket Women 2013, after losing to Algeria in the two-game elimination. 

However, with Tunisia's junior teams doing well on the international stage, Hamrouni, argues that it's time to move on.

"In the past few years, Tunisian women's basketball was far behind from the level of basketball in Africa because we lacked competitions. That is why our participation [in the ACCW] was important. We need this kind of tournaments to measure the gap between us and others and try to improve."

In that tournament, Hamrouni averaged 15.5 points per games, but CSPC (2-5) finished seventh in the eight-team event.

Hosts Club Sfaxien proudly waved the Tunisian flag after finishing third.

As for her future, Hamrouni has high goals. She hopes to play to the best of her abilities, help put Tunisia's women basketball on the map again and make the most of the growing popularity of the game in the country.

"Basketball was not a popular sport in Tunisia until the moment the men's national team won AfroBasket 2011. Nowadays games are aired on the national TV. But this concerns the men's team only. I hope to see that happen in the women's game in the future."

Whatever the future hold for Hamrouni with regards to her professional career, she will always cherish her life-changing Slovenian experience.

"Playing in Slovenia was a very rich experience. I have learnt a lot about their basketball style which is very different from the African basketball," she recalled.

"Of course at first it took me some time to adapt and adjust, personally and professionally. But my teammates helped me to fit with the new life style.

"I want to thank the whole team members involved in my beautiful experience in Slovenia."

Hamrouni says Tunisia's objectives won't be made public until the women's national team head coach is appointed.

FIBA