SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - There is a number of reasons why the DR Congo are self-proclaiming they will be podium contenders at FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017.

You rightly might wonder how a team that has lagged behind in recent years could become a threat to Africa powerhouses such as Senegal, Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon and Mozambique. 

"This is a big moment for Congolese basketball, and to make it even more special we must qualify for the World Cup. I would like to retire from international basketball by giving back something big to my country." - Akonga

However, if one looks closely at the talented players at their disposal - some of whom sat out the FIBA Africa Zone 4 Qualifier against the Central African Republic (CAF) over the weekend - and listen to their confident speeches, then you might find some answers. 

The DR Congo closed the regional qualifier with a 117-109 win on aggregate in their capital city of Kinshasa and as a result clinched the last qualifying spot for the 12-team Africa showpiece to be held in Bamako, Mali from August 18-27.

It was in the Malian capital, back in 2011,  that Charly Buzango's team last appeared at a FIBA Women's AfroBasket. And so it will be in this same city that the DR Congo will look to make history by securing one of the two tickets available for African teams for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 in Spain.

Two of the players that missed the Qualifier but are hoping to make a difference in Bamako, are Pauline Akonga and Mireille Muganza.

While the latter made a splash at the 2016 FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women (ACCW) in Mozambique, Akonga was equally instrumental for champions InterClube de Luanda.

While playing for Algerian side GS Petroliers Muganza (far left) was named to the 2016 FIBA ACCW All-Star Team  

I spoke to Akonga, Muganza and Buzango who seem legitimate contenders to play at FIBA Women's AfroBasket.

Akonga last appeared in the continental event in 2005 when DR Congo fell short to Mozambique in the Third-Place Game.

Akonga last played for DR of Congo at FIBA Women's AfroBasket in 2005

This is what she had to say: "I can't wait to join my national team again. The girls played extremely hard against CAF and made us proud. Now it's time for us to put our team on the African basketball map again.

"Given that this is my last chance of playing for my country in Africa I will do everything I can to make our fellow Congolese proud.

"This is a big moment for Congolese basketball, and to make it even more special we must qualify for the World Cup. I would like to retire from international basketball by giving back something big to my country.

"I have talked to a number of Congolese players, and everyone agrees that we are capable of reaching the podium in Mali."

Coach Buzango followed suit, saying: "It's been a tough series against CAF, especially because we played with a young and inexperienced team. We have tried to bring our foreign-based best players but because of the constant delays in organising the qualifier, we had to play with local players. But I am thankful and proud of my players.

"This is a new chapter in our basketball history because we now have capable people in the right place to run the game in our country. There is still a long way to go but we are on the right path now.

"With our best players based abroad, now available to play for us, I believe that we are good enough to compete against Africa's best teams."

Muganza has been instrumental in GS Petroliers's success

Muganza, who led the 2016 ACCW in reboundings with seven boards per game, including a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds against Nigerian champions First Bank in the Group Phase, added: "This qualification was important for us. Six years we finished in seventh place, but this time we will try to do better since we gained more experience. Our objective is to play better and achieve a better result than the last participations."

The DR Congo may sit 14th in the NIKE FIBA Africa Ranking Women, but if their speeches are anything to go by, then, get ready for a new FIBA Women's AfroBasket contender. 

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

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