Tunisia announce preliminary squad for FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017
TUNIS (FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017) - Tunisia head coach Riadh Ben Abdallah insists that this year's FIBA Women's AfroBasket in Mali could revive women's basketball in the North African country.
And, in the build-up to Tunisia's first appearance in FIBA Africa's most important women's competition since 2011, Ben Abdallah has named 18 players for an ongoing training camp in Tunis.
"We would be pleased to reach the Quarter-Finals. We have good young players who are willing to revive the game in Tunisia." - Ben Abdallah
For personal reasons, Tunisia won't count with the services of experienced players such as two-time FIBA Women's AfroBasket participant Thouraya Adsi, FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2002 participant Maherzia Ksouri, Nedra Dhouibi and Khouloud Akroute.
Meanwhile, Ben Abdallah, who was at the helm of Tunisia at FIBA Africa U18 Women's Championship 2016, is trusting a number of rising stars, who he believes could help Tunisia make an impact in Mali.
| Tunisia 18-player preliminary squad for FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 | |||
| Fatma Aouinet | Maroua Baccar | Beya Ben Ameur | Chaima Ben Mahmoud |
| Monia Ben Mechlia | Sirine Dridi | Houda hamrouni | Siwar Khlifa |
| Fatma Jebali | Imen Jedidi | Amira Jendoubi | Rania Laouini |
| Wafa Lobbiri | Mariem Mallat | Khouloud Mefteh | Salma Mnasria |
| Hela Msaddak | Marwa Shili | ||
"The only trouble we face," Ben Abdallah said to FIBA.com, is "we lack international games to prepare for the FIBA Women's AfroBasket. Our national team last played an international game in 2013."
Marwa Shili led Tunisia in scoring and rebounding at FIBA Africa U18 Women's Championship 2016 in Cairo
Tunisia secured the only qualifying ticket for FIBA Africa Zone 1 teams for the Final Round in Bamako, August 18-27 following Morocco's withdrawal.
Basket/La Tunisie se qualifie pour le FIBA AfroBasket Feminin 2017 suite au retrait du Maroc https://t.co/vh5ihxfAk4 pic.twitter.com/6LrMyZtsan
— sportsenegal.com (@sportsenegal) April 13, 2017
"We would like to have played the qualifiers against Morocco but they didn't travel to Tunisia and we still have to measure up our team's competitiveness," Ben Abdallah said.
The Tunisians return to Bamako, where they last played at the 12-team FIBA Women's AfroBasket in 2011. At the time, the North African claimed a 10th-place finish.
Now, Tunisia look a bit more ambitious: "We would be pleased to reach the Quarter-Finals. We have good young players who are willing to revive the game in Tunisia," the playcaller revealed.
Tunisia have been drawn in Group B alongside hosts Mali, Mozambique, Cote d'Ivoire, Angola and a team that will be attributed a wild card.
"It'll be a tough competition for us, but I believe we can win some games in our group," he noted.
FIBA
