BEIRA (FIBA U16 Women’s African Championship 2017) – For a team making a debut appearance, Zimbabwe have put up a decent fight even in the face of defeat at the ongoing FIBA U16 Women's African Championship at the Ferroviario da Beira Stadium.

Three straight losses have relegated them to bottom of the table standings but when they meet Angola in their last game on Tuesday, it will be about playing for national pride.

Two close games against Mozambique 48-39 and Egypt 55-46 have left them ruing wasted opportunities that could have gone a long way in making for a reasonable outing.

"It is an honour for us to have been selected to come and play at this tournament. We are the pioneers. It is a very good moment for us and every time the national anthem plays, it is a proud moment for us so we must give this game everything.”-Sibanda

Coming off a humiliating defeat to the defending champions Mali 112-22, Zimbabwe believe there is so much to play for and are indeed taking this loss by the chin.

With their destiny more or less determined, they are keen to face Angola not just as a wounded lion but as a determined side that is eager to learn from every experience.

“It is an honour for us to have been selected to come and play at this tournament. We are the pioneers. It is a very good moment for us and every time the national anthem plays, it is a proud moment for us so we must give this game everything,” the team captain Sibanda said to FIBA.basketball.

Against Angola, they face a side desperate to get a win under their belt after they lost to Egypt 56-43 on Monday bringing their ratio to 1-1. Improving this is a priority according to head coach Elisa Pires. 

The top four teams after the round-robin stage will play the Semi-Finals with the winners squaring off in the Final.

The two finalists will qualify for the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup 2018 in Minsk, Belarus.

FIBA