SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - Eight African countries will play 24 games in three games in the first-leg of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in two different cities.

From February 23-25, Mozambique will host Cote d'Ivoire, the Central African Republic and Senegal in Group D while Group B hosts Mali will go up against Uganda, Rwanda, and Nigeria.

At stake in the African Qualifiers are five tickets to reach the first-ever 32-team FIBA Basketball World Cup taking place in China from August 31-September 15, 2019.

If you wonder how African teams are gearing up for this month's World Cup Qualifiers, today's column brings you everything you need to know about these eight teams.

NIGERIA 

According to a Nigerian Basketball Federation press release, Alex Nwora, who led the team to a second-place at FIBA AfroBasket 2017, remains in charge. The former African champions will head to Mali with their top three scorers from last year's FIBA AfroBasket in the form of Ike Diogu, Ikenna Iroegbu, and Ikechukwu Nwamu. 

UGANDA

While Brandon Sebirumbi - who last played for Aomori Watts in Japan's top flight - is set to re-join the Silverbacks for the first time since the FIBA AfroBasket 2015, head coach Mandy Juruny has reportedly indicated that he will choose seven players from the local championship for the Bamako showdown.

Brandon Sebirumbi averaged 8.6 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds at FIBA AfroBasket 2015

And, although the team's leading rebounder from last year's FIBA AfroBasket Adarius Pegues might miss out this month's World Cup Qualifiers, the East Africans are expected to count on sharpshooter Robinson Opong as well as Stanley Ocitti.

Uganda opened their World Cup African Qualifiers training camp last month in the capital Kampala.  

MALI 

As hosts of Group B's first-leg, Mali are not taking anything for granted and therefore they signed Frenchman Remi Giuitta as the team's head coach. 

Giuitta currently coaches FOS Provence Basket in France's PRO B, and has worked with a number of French-Malian players. 

Giuitta, who recently admitted that he has never visited Mali before, will start preparing the team on February 17 in the capital Bamako.

RWANDA

Under the watchful eye of head coach Moise Mutokambali, Rwanda opened their preparations for the Bamako showpiece on Saturday with a seventeen-man provisional squad in the capital Kigali.

Rwanda's leading scorer at FIBA AfroBasket 2017 with 14.7 points per game, Kami Kabange headlines a preliminary squad 

Both Hamza Ruhezamihigo and Kenneth Gasana are expected to join the team at a later date.  

MOZAMBIQUE

Hosts of Group D's first-leg, Mozambique were due to open their World Cup African Qualifiers on Monday. Inaki Garcia, who currently coaches Lusitania in Portugal's top flight, was re-appointed as head coach.

In the process, Garcia announced a 16-man provisional squad, which included half of the team from FIBA AfroBasket 2017.

SENEGAL 

Senegal newly appointed head coach Abdourahmane Ndiaye wasted no time in choosing his final roster. The 12-man squad will converge in Dakar on February 17 before heading for Maputo two days later. 

Last week, Ndiaye addressed the media.

Ndiaye selected eight players from last year's FIBA AfroBasket.

COTE D'IVOIRE

Three of Cote d'Ivoire's finest players could make their first national appearance since they hosted the 2013 edition of FIBA Africa's premier basketball competition. 

Tony Miller replaces Hugues Occansey at the helm of the 'Elephants'.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

After a two-week training camp in their capital city of Bangui, the Central African Republic will resume their World Cup Qualifiers preparations in Sousse, Tunisia, where head coach Ulrich Marida will welcome Max Kouguere, William Kossangue, and Jimmy Djimrabaye - the team's most influential trio who ply their trades in France.

Julio Chitunda
FIBA

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