NANTES (France) - Leia Dongue has become a household name in African basketball scene over the last decade, but she insists that she won't throw the towel in until Mozambique lift their first-ever FIBA Women's AfroBasket title. 

Rated as one of the best talents that Africa has produced over the last 15 years, the 1.84m (6ft 1in) power forward has won a number of individual awards at continental level.

From being named MVP at FIBA Africa Champions for Women twice to highlighting Women's AfroBasket All-Star teams on a number of occasion, the Maputo native, who turns 30 in May, switched to the European basketball four years ago, and she shows no sign of slowing down.

But it's the challenge of making her fellow Mozambicans proud that keeps her highly-motivated. 

Mozambique have thrice come close to winning gold and lifting the FIBA Women's AfroBasket trophy but have seen it slip away.

"WITHOUT A DOUBT MY GOAL WITH THE MOZAMBIQUE TEAM IN RECENT YEARS IS TO WIN THE AFROBASKET, AND THIS YEAR I DEFINITELY HAVE THE SAME GOAL."- Leia Dongue

Mozambique have finished runners-up at Women's AfroBasket on three occasions and placed fourth five times.

Later this year, the Mozambicans will have another chance at FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2021, a tournament they qualified to by virtue of finishing fourth two years ago.

Dongue currently plying her trade with Nantes in France's topflight, told FIBA.basketball that the time has come for Mozambique to rise above other nations and claim the continental crown. 

"I am a very fond player in Mozambique not only for my talent but also for my way of being and interacting with the Mozambican people when I have the chance and I am very grateful for the affection," she said.

Mozambique finished four at FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019 in Dakar, Senegal

Mozambique currently sit at No.3 in Africa behind two-time defending champions Nigeria and Senegal according to FIBA's latest FIBA World Ranking.

"This is the result of hard work and we know that we have some weaknesses because we are in a process of transition from the old generation to the new generation but without a doubt, my goal with the Mozambique team in recent years is to win the AfroBasket and this year I definitely have the same goal," Dongue pointed out.

Speaking about the challenges Mozambique face, Dongue noted that: "High competition has other requirements and we unfortunately still cannot speak the same language. It involves an investment both in terms of athletes in the respective clubs, training with a certain insistency on coaches and finding competitive volume. And for that to happen there needs to be more support."

She called for investment at training levels, selection of talents and interconnection between clubs, federation with colleges, universities where some young athletes are pointing out that there is a protocol.

She says, fortunately, she already has the experience and achieved appreciation both in Africa and Europe. "I feel capable and it will always be my duty to give my contribution both in terms of national team and projects that may be worth a different and brilliant future for our basketball. In general, I want to be remembered as someone who contributed a lot to the game in Mozambique and continue to inspire future generations with my legacy," Dongue explained.

FIBA