DALLAS (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - If anyone in Italy's or Croatia's national team camps expects Tunisia to be the whipping boys of Group B in the Turin FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT), they had better do their homework.

Participants in the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Turkey, AfroBasket winners in 2011 and Olympic debutants in 2012, the Tunisians have grown accustomed to competing in the big-game atmospheres. When they hosted last year's AfroBasket, the Tunisians were the only team to beat eventual champions Nigeria, the pre-tournament favorites who eventually won the title and qualified for the Rio de Janeiro Games.

The play that set the tone for Tunisia in that famous Group Phase romp in front of a roaring, packed arena in Rades, just on the outskirts of Tunis? It was turned in by AfroBasket 2011 MVP Salah Mejri. His rejection of high-flying D'Tiger, Al-Farouq Aminu, went viral.

That is just one of the highlight reel plays that Mejri has had the past several years for Tunisia. He had plenty of others at the AfroBasket.

The presence of Italy and Croatia, who have a richer history in international basketball, in their group means that Tunisia will have an enormous challenge. And if Tunisia finish in the top two of Group B, they face potential encounters with Group A sides Greece, Mexico or Iran in a Semi-Final. The Africans must win the OQT to reach Rio.

We are not favourites, but we don't have any pressure. We have nothing to lose, everything to win. Everyone expects Croatia or Italy to qualify and Tunisia is not seen as a country of basketball. We have been growing a lot in the last couple of years, but we don't have yet the same tradition and history of basketball that have those two countries. We are going to play at our best; we are going to compete. - Mejri

The European teams have taken five of the six Olympic berths up for grabs at the last couple of OQTs, yet the games have to be played. Nigeria proved four years ago in Caracas when they upset Greece in a vital elimination game and then clinched a spot for the London Olympics that African sides are not only dangerous but capable.

"It's a great opportunity to play high-level games," Mejri told FIBA.com. "The preparation is going to be intense. There is always room for surprise, so who knows? Nigeria did it four years ago, and we are going to do our best to try to make history. It's going to be super tough, but nothing is impossible."

Tunisia simply cannot be taken lightly. They overcame the disappointment of last year's AfroBasket Semi-Final defeat to Angola and reached the podium after beating Senegal in the battle for third place.

What was very impressive about that Tunisia triumph was that the team was able to prevail without Mejri. He missed the game with an injury.

We had some injuries, including mine, and the fact that Nigeria and Angola played very well didn't help us reach our goal. When everyone was healthy during the group stage, we beat Nigeria and as I got injured, the team had more difficulties. Reaching the bronze medal and beating Senegal in the third place game was also a great way to finish the tournament. - Mejri

"We had a great AfroBasket at home and had a medal, which is always good because we are not a huge nation of basketball. It's growing, but we are still working on being a great country of basketball. We have been having great results and the team has been playing together," Mejri said.

Playing for Tunisia has helped Mejri raise his profile. It's safe to assume that had he not put on the national team jersey the past several years, he would not now be competing in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks. Mejri is in his rookie season and rubbing shoulders with the greats like Mavs superstar and Germany great Dirk Nowitzki.

"Everybody thought I was a rookie but I have been playing professional for quite a while now, including for the best team outside of the NBA, Real Madrid," Mejri said. "It was difficult at the beginning when I first got to Dallas, I had some difficult moments, but people kept telling me that it was normal as I was coming from Europe and nobody knew about me as I didn't go to college in the USA.

"They told me to be patient and that's what I did until now as I have the opportunity to show what I can do. I am a hard worker and hard work always pays off. I still have to work hard in order to keep that good dynamic going and be a solid player on that team."

He loves the opportunity in Dallas. He treasures the chance to be alongside Nowitzki.

Dirk Nowitzki is a legend. It's an honour for me to play, to practice and spend time in the locker room with a future Hall of famer like him. But the Mavericks are not only Dirk Nowitzki: it's also a fantastic group of players and I am happy to be here in Dallas. - Mejri

Come this summer, all of Mejri's attention will be on the OQT and making it to a second straight Olympics. Taking part in that competition never gets old.

"The Olympics are so special," he said. "The event, being around all the world's best athletes, was amazing (in 2012). I dream about competing in the Olympics again."

FIBA