RABAT (Morocco) - FUS Rabat won't be short of experience when they take to the floor for the upcoming West Division Elite 16 in Yaounde, Cameroon.

As the Moroccan champions attempt to reach the Basketball Africa League (BAL) for the very first time in the club's history, the Rabat-based team made some major adjustments to its roster.

The most significant FUS Rabat significant was probably that of of coach Said El Bouzidi, who replaced Stephane Dumas. 

Frenchman Dumas, who has coached in Africa for the last few years - assistant and caretaker coach of Senegal men's team and head coach of Equatorial Guinea - led FUS Rabat to the 2023 Morocco League title, where they beat MTB Tanger 3-1 in the best-of-five finals last July.

El Bouzid, who holds a relatively successful coaching career on the continent, reached the pinnacle of his career when he led AS Sale to the 2017 FIBA Africa Champions Cup title and helped his native Morocco to the fourth place of the 2017 FIBA AfroBasket.

Besides El Bouzidi's arrival, FUS Rabat  kept Abdelhakim Zouita, who won the MVP award of the 2023 Morocco League Finals. Zouita, a well-known player on the continent of Africa, but who is yet to feature in the BAL, averaged 17.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in the League Finals.

Abdelhakim Zouita last competed in a major continental competition in the 2019 FIBA-run Africa Basketball League, where his AS Sale finished second to Angolan side Primeiro de Angola 

FUS Rabat's recruiting brought in Moroccan internationals Ayoub Nouhi, Omarn Laani, Yacine Baeri, Jaouad Darib, Karim El Haoua, and Badr Azouga. Former Ferroviario da Beira center Orizu Ifeayi and John Jordan.

Another major FUS Rabat signing was that of Malian international player Aliou Diarra, who was voted the 2023 BAL Defensive Player of the Year after helping Stade Malien to the Third Place of the coveted League.

With such eye-catching signings, one question remains unanswered. What can this star-studded FUS Rabat achieve in the Elite 16 in Yaounde?

Group B of the West Division Elite 16 is probable the so-called 'group of death', considering how balanced it is. Bangui Sporting Club, FUS Rabat, ABC Fighters and Seydou Legacy Athletique Club (SLAC) all seem to be on the same page in terms of potential of quality.

However, for FUS Rabat to advance to the Semi-Finals and, eventually, secure one of the three tickets on offer for the BAL Season 4, the Moroccan champions will need to live up to their accolades and be able to compete from the first jump. 

If FUS Rabat qualify to the next BAL season, they will become the second Moroccan club - since AS Sale - to appear in the BAL. 

FIBA