Yaounde vibrates to the rhythm of BAL 2020 Qualifiers

YAOUNDE (Cameroon) - FAP of Yaounde's quest for a second stint at the Basketball Africa League (BAL) tips off with Group C clashes against Tondema of the Central African Republic and Espoir Fukash of theDemocratic Republic of Congo at the Yaoundé sports complex on Friday.

Central African giants Tondema, having secured the championship crown, are  now turning their attention towards conquering hearts on the continent with a cast of home-based players. 

But the Bangui-based club's lofty ambition is backed by their basketballing pedigree having scooped an incredible 6 domestic league crowns.

Tondema begin their journey in the BAL qualifiers against host FAP on Friday before facing Espoir Fukash.

Heading to Yaounde with the ambition of worming their way through the initial hurdle is Espoir Fukash’s mantra.

The Congolese have made it crystal clear that their ultimate goal is a spot in the second edition of the BAL. 

Fresh from winning the 38th Cup of DR Congo where they overpowered SCTP 59-48, Coach Raven Mwimba is poised on buoying Espoir Fukash to another significant achievement in Africa.

"WHEN YOU PLAY AT THE BAL, YOU ALWAYS WANT TO GO BACK THERE AND PLAY AGAINST THE BEST."- Ebaku AKUMENZOH

The host FAP of Yaounde head into the qualifiers as favorites having savored the first BAL, sailing through to the quarterfinals in Kigali, Rwanda.

While Francoise Enyegue, who was the deputy coach at the continental club bonanza in Kigali, will be taking charge of the team, five new players drawn from the local championship have been drafted in amongst them teenage hotshot Yanis Ndjonga, a cousin to NBA basketball star and Philadelphia sixers poster boy Joel Embiid.

 The swingman was voted in July as the best upcoming young player of the Centre regional league and is expected to thrive in the qualifiers.

FAP forward Ebaku Akumenzoh who averaged 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds at the maiden BAL, is upbeat the side wants to return to the tournament for more action.

"When you play at the BAL, you always want to go back there and play against the best," Ebaku stated before adding "The teams that are here are good teams and we can't lose focus of the fact that they too want to go to the BAL.

"No matter what, we just want to play at our best level, take a game at a time and move to the next round until we get to the BA," he concluded.

FIBA