SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - The first-leg of Groups B and D of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers concluded on Sunday, and it's fair to say that Nigeria and Mozambique were the biggest winners.

Nigeria not only outscored their Group B opponents - Mali, Uganda, and Rwanda - by an average of 31 points per contest, but the winners of the 2015 edition of the FIBA AfroBasket reminded us all that they are on a mission to secure one of the five tickets on offer for African teams for the 32-team FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China.

Michael Efevberha has proven to be a massive addition to Nigeria

Although it is too early to say which African teams will advance to the Finals - because there are still another four FIBA qualifying windows until February 2019 - my prediction is that Nigeria will make it to China as they have shown everything a team needs to join the 32 best national teams in the world. If they do, it will be Nigeria's first World Cup appearance since 2006.

Nigeria have had some prolific scorers over the past few years (Chamberlain Oguchi, Al Farouq Aminu and Ade Dagunduro, just to mention a few), but having Michael Efevberha back on the team for the first time since he led Nigeria in scoring at FIBA AfroBasket 2009 was a huge victory for Alex Nwora's side.

Watching Efevberha and Ike Diogu leading the Nigerian offense the way they did in Bamako makes me wonder how could future opponents stop Nigeria if they stick together for the remainder of the African Qualifiers.

On the other hand, Mozambique made the most of the "This is My House" hype. 

Mozambique fans showed up in considerable numbers in support of their heroes

But this month's African Qualifiers weren't necessarily all about Nigeria and Mozambique.

Individually, a number of players raised to the occasion too.

Uganda's duo of Jimmy Enabu and Robinson Opong sparked Mandy Juruni's team with a staggering 38 points per game.

Jimmy Enabu

Although Uganda returned home with a 1-2 mark, Enabu's six three-pointers in seven attempts against Nigeria became one of the highlights in Bamako. 

In the absence of team's leading scorer Max Kouguere - who sat out against Mozambique and Cote d'Ivoire - Destin Damachoua propelled the Central Africans with a much-needed 17 points per game.

Mahamadou Keita may have hit a game-winning three-pointer against Uganda, but Drissa Ballo's impact in the paint set him apart. 

Ballo, who had represented his country at FIBA AfroBasket 2015, averaged an impressive Group B-high nine rebounds in three games.  

The teams that finish in top-three of each group will then advance to the 12-team second-round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers.

The African Qualifiers return in June-July with all 16 teams in action in four different African cities. 

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

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