VITORIA-GASTEIZ (Spain) - In approximately one month Mozambique will play some of - if not - the most important games in their basketball history.

And if they are to make history they must beat Nigeria on February 6th, in the opener of Group A of the Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) in Belgrade, Serbia and keep their momentum for the remainder of the four-team event.

Reigning Olympic champions USA and hosts Serbia complete the group, which Mozambique center Tamara Seda calls a "tough" one. 

"MY MOST IMMEDIATE GOALS ARE TO KEEP DOING GREAT THINGS WITH MY CURRENT TEAM AND ALSO QUALIFY FOR THE OLYMPICS."- Seda

The three highest teams from the four WOQTs qualify for the Tokyo Games.

And as FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 champions USA and the hosts of the Olympic Games, Japan, will play in the WOQT but will advance through to the Tokyo 2020 Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament regardless of their results. 

"We all know what Mozambique needs to do to be able to secure a ticket; and that is to win a game or two. We are excited about what's coming up and already working on it," Seda revealed to FIBA.basketball.

A home defeat to Nigeria in the pre-olympic qualifiers - two months ago - might have not been a good sign for Mozambique's Olympic aspirations, but the 1.93m (6ft4in) center insists they feel no pressure whatsoever. 

"Nigeria is of course the reigning Africa champions and they have a very good team, and everybody expects them to win. So we have nothing to lose.  [Group A] It is what it is. It would have been tough in any group," Seda admitted. 

Seda played a major role helping Mozambique to a Fourth-Place at FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019

But the Olympic dream - the chance of playing some of the best players on the biggest stage - is something that Seda and her teammates can not hide even though Mozambique - at 43rd in the FIBA World Rankings - head to the Belgrade WOQT as the lowest-ranked team among in the entire tournament.

Seda said: "It's any athlete's dream to be able to participate in the Olympic Games. My team and I might have a shot to do so and of course we are excited. We sacrifice so much to play the sport but we also accomplish greater things. So to me it would be the greatest accomplishment as an athlete." 

A former University of Texas El Paso standout, Seda has become a key member of the Mozambique national team in recent years, having won the top rebounder award at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019 in Dakar, Senegal.

At 25, and in her second year as a professional, she is currently making waves  with RPK Araski in Spain's topflight. 

"Of course I've embraced new challenges, like moving to Spain and playing in a great league. I'm only at the start of my pro career and hopefully I have many more years. My most immediate goals are to keep doing great things with my current team and also qualify for the Olympics. "

Seda and Campus Promete's Leia Dongue are the only Mozambicans currently playing professional basketball in Europe.

The experience, Seda notes, "helps our national team to have players in the pro world because we get to bring that experience and level to our team. It's amazing to play pro and still be able to represent your country. In our days all African National Teams are composed by not only pro athletes but also dual citizenship players."

Talking about the significancy of playing for Mozambique, Seda explained why it took her so long to launch her international career.

"Ever since I started playing basketball and went to the US I was unable to join the national team in several occasions because of school. I guess I could say I've been waiting for this my whole career."

FIBA