SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - In three weeks time, eleven clubs from across Africa will try to stop InterClube's dominance at FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women (ACCW).

But, the question ACCW followers are asking these days is, who can deny a club that have won five of the last seven editions of the tournament?

We'll find out the answer when the Angolan capital city of Luanda host this year's ACCW from November 3-12.

With five continental titles, Angolan side InterClube have become the most successful ACCW club

Although regional qualifiers are set to resume later this week - after Kenya Ports Authority and Equity Hawks secured their tickets for the Final Round - I feel that First Bank of Nigeria and Ferroviario de Maputo of Mozambique emerge as potential ACCW 2017 podium contenders given both clubs' achievement in recent years.

While First Bank stunned Angolan outfit Primeiro D'Agosto in the Third-Place game last year, the Mozambicans fell short in the final.

Nevertheless, former ACCW winners Primeiro D'Agosto from Angola seem also capable of causing an upset this year not only for playing in front of their fan base, but for knowing InterClube better than most.

A year ago, the Angolan champions stormed into Maputo, dispatching all their opponents - including hosts Ferroviario de Maputo - to clinch their fifth ACCW title.  

So, to understand how InterClube have achieved so much ACCW success I've asked Apolinario Paquete - the man who coached the Angolans to four of their five continental titles - to share his thoughts on the upcoming tournament. 

"For now, our priority is to qualify for the Final Round and therefore our target is to defend the African title," he explained.

And although InterClube will play the FIBA Africa Zone 6 ACCW qualifier without Nadir Manuel and last year's ACCW MVP Sequoia Holmes, they have kept most of the roster from 2016, and added Nigerian international Ndidi Madu to enhance their chances near the basket. 

ACCW runners-up a year ago, Ferroviario de Maputo have handed the reins to Spaniard Inaki Garcia. 

"We did well in the last three [ACCW] editions, this year, the objective is to win the trophy," a Ferroviario de Maputo statement said.

Whether InterClube win the annual ACCW next month or not, we'll wait and see, but one thing is certain, there will be basketball talent aplenty in Luanda. 

Remember Italee Lucas and Leia Dongue - two of the five players who made the 2017 FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 All-Tournament team?

Yes, you guessed it. If they stay healthy, they will be some of the players to watch out at FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women 2017

Julio Chitunda
FIBA

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