LUANDA (Angola) - It's been over two decades since Angola last lifted a FIBA U18 Women's African Championship trophy, but that's not because they have underperformed, it's simply because two teams - Mali and Egypt - have become Angola's main hurdle.

And heading to their first continental Championship since 2018 - after withdrawing the 2020 tournament - presents a challenge for a team looking match-up their main rivals in Africa.

Ranked fourth on the continent of Africa, the Angola U18 team has registered a steady progress over the last few years. They finished fifth (2014), fourth (2016) and third (2018) in three appearances. 

Only time will tell if Madagascar 2022  can become a take off platform for Angola, who last won the U18 Women African Championship (Junior Championship) in 1999.

Team: Angola
FIBA Ranking U18 Girls: 40th (World); 4th (Africa)
Last participation at U18 Women African Championship: 2018 (3rd place)
Best result at U18 Women African Championship: 1st (1999 - African Championship for Junior Women)
How they qualified for the 2022 U18 Women African Championship: Angola qualified to the Final Round as winners of FIBA Africa Zone 6 Qualifiers held in Lesotho last December
World: Angola have never played at FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup
History/Qualification: Except for the 2020 edition of the tournament, Angola are regular participants in the U18 Women African Championshp. 

Head Coach: A former player with a relatively successful playing career, Elisa Pires has become a renowned coach in her native Angola. She served as assistant coach to former Olympian Anibal Moreira for years.

Elisa Pires coached Angola at the 2018 FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup

Pires and Moreira led Angola to their last FIBA Women's AfroBasket title in 2013 in Maputo. The two coaches led Angola at the 2014 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Turkey.

As a head coach, Pires led Angola to a fourth place in the 2016 FIBA U18 Women African Championship. This year, Pires will mark her second stint as head coach of Angola U18 team.  

Outlook: The one million dollar question for Angola in the build-up to the Madagascar 2022 is whether or not they return to the podium for the second straight time since their last appearance in the tournament in 2018.

The challenge Angola face in Madagascar is to try to top higher-ranked teams Egypt, Mali and, maybe, Mozambique, programs that start to become regular visitors to the podium. 

A thorough look into Angola's preliminary squad suggests that this team won't be short in talent, size, and willingness to learn. 

A successful campaign in Madagascar will depend on how Angola start the Championship, and who they are drawn against. To start the Championship with a win is a must-do task for Angola.

FIBA