Four new faces in Mozambique's final roster
MAPUTO (FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017) - Mozambique finalized their roster for the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 with the addition of four new players.
Only three players - including Elisabeth Pereira, Odelia Mafanela and Iliana Ventura - from the African Championship 2015 in Cameroon are set to return this week in Bamako, Mali. They will be joined by newcomers Eleuteria Lhavanguane, Aquila Mucubaquine, Chanaya Pinto and Tamara Seda.
So, who are the new faces?
Pinto is a 17-year-old forward who made a splash at FIBA U16 Women's African Championship 2015 in Madagascar, averaging a team-high 14 points per game.
Pinto (second from right) was named to the FIBA U16 Women's African Championship 2015 All-Tournament team
Mucubaquine was named the 2017 Most Valuable Player of Mozambique National Championship.
Lhavanguane, 19, led Mozambique to the Third-Place at FIBA U18 Women's African Championship 2014 in Cairo while Seda has last played for the University of Texas El Paso, a NCAA Division 1 school.
| Mozambique 12-player final roster for FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 | |||
| Anabela Cossa | Leia Dongue | Catia Halar | Eleuteria Lhavanguane |
| Odelia Mafanela | Amelia Massingue | Aquila Mucubaquine | Rute Muianga |
| Elizabeth Pereira | Chanaya Pinto | Tamara Seda | Iliana Ventura |
Four players - including Muianga, Dongue, Halar, Cossa - are set to return for the first time since 2013.
Meanwhile, 32-year-old Massingue who helped Mozambique claim a Third-Place in 2005, is set to wear Mozambique's uniform for the first time since 2009.
Mozambique will open their Group B campaign on August 18 against Nigeria. They resume their Group Phase taking on reigning champions Senegal, Egypt, DR Congo and Guinea.
The finalists at the 12-team FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 will represent Africa at 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Spain.
FIBA
