LUANDA (Angola) - Former FIBA Women's AfroBasket MVP Astou Traore has joined five-time record African champions Inter Clube ahead of the FIBA Africa Women's Champions Cup set to be held  from December 6-15 in Madagascar.

The 38-year old, who is arguably the best shooting guard in Africa having the most points at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket - 830 points, brings massive experience to the Angolan outfit who are going for a sixth African title when they lineup in the Malagasy Republic. 

Excited to be suiting up alongside the best-of-the-best, Inter Clube poster girl Italee Lucas is not hiding her eagerness for the competition to get underway when they come up against the top sides in Africa. 

“IT IS SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO PLAY WITH AND ALONGSIDE ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN AFRICA. SHE BRINGS SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE TO THE GAME AND MENTAL STRENGTH.”- Lucas

The Angolan giants will be looking to win their first African title since 2016 having finished fourth the following year and reaching the final last year. 

For Traore, this will be a chance to add yet another accolade to her many achievements in a very successful professional basketball career that includes playing at the Rio 2016 Olympics and the FIBA Women's World Cup 2018 in Spain as well as featuring in seven editions of the FIBA Women's AfroBasket. 

Renowned for her colorful hairstyles, Traore will once again seek to add more color on the court at club level in Africa having also featured in continental club competitions in South America and Europe. 

Traore scored a game high 17 points against Angola in August

Lucas told FIBA.basketball in an exclusive interview that, "I always go into a tournament believing we can win. We have come so close but that is not good enough. In order to bring championship back home. We are going to have to all come together as a collective and each of us combined our strengths." 

"It is such a privilege to play with and alongside one of the best players in Africa. She brings so much knowledge to the game and mental strength. She is a leader and to have sound voice and player on the court with us is going to take us to another level."

Traore and Lucas were named to the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 All-Star team

Africa's premier event for women's club basketball will be held in the capital of Antananarivo at Palais des Sports Mahamasima with a total of 12 teams competing. 

The reigning champions Ferroviario de Maputo of Mozambique and hosts MB2ALL are automatically already qualified for the event. 

Ten slots are available for the showpiece with regional qualifiers getting underway this month across Africa. Angolan giants Inter Clube remain the most decorated side with five titles won in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2016. 

FIBA