Guinea celebrate second straight AfroBasket appearance after FIBA's decision

MULHOUSE (France) - Guinea left Cameroon at the end of the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers not sure of what their fate was following the complaint of Equatorial Guinea but a recent decision by FIBA has changed their fortunes.

And now, it is celebration galore all the way for the tiny West African nation.

FIBA stated in their decision of March 2, 2021, that: "Following the non-appearance of Equatorial Guinea in their game against Cameroon on February 19, 2021, due to the late arrival of the delegation of Equatorial Guinea in Yaounde, the game has been forfeited in favor of Cameroon."

The decision is based upon the unjustified late arrival of the Equatorial Guinea delegation in Yaounde, the related inobservance of the relevant provisions of the FIBA COVID-19 Protocol and the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers Handbook that lead to the failure to appear at the game at the scheduled time and place.

Taking the ruling into consideration, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon and Guinea secured Group C's spots for FIBA AfroBasket 2021 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The above decision handed Guinea their sixth appearance in AfroBasket history.

And for Guinea centre, Daouda Conde who plays for FC Mulhouse Basket in France, the news was a welcome relief.

"WE NO LONGER WANT TO BE THE NATION THAT ONLY PARTICIPATES. WE WANT TO PROGRESS."- Daouda Conde

 The 28-year-old told FIBA.basketball.com that the entire Guinea team was left in confusion.

"It was complicated, we were waiting for a "non-sporting" decision but we did the right thing by winning by more than seven points and when the news came, it was a little less than victory day because we are in cities quite far from each other but we all called to burst out with joy."

However, the 2.04m (6ft 8in) center has put celebration aside and is now focused on the next line of action as he insists that Guinea deserve commendation from all the players, coaching staff and the federation for ensuring that their efforts did no come to naught.

Daouda Conde averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds in five AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers games

However, he states in clear terms that the time has come for Guinea basketball to make a bold statement in African basketball.

"We no longer want to be the nation that only participates; we want to progress and after talking to the leaders we should have a better preparation and probably a more competent roster."

In Guinea’s previous participation in the AfroBasket, they had dropped drastically from finishing fourth place in 1962 to 10th positions twice in 1980 and 1983 respectively, 11th place in 1985 and 16th place in 2017. For this reason, Daouda Conde says team Guinea must change the narrative.

In their first AfroBasket appearance in 32 years, Guinea finished 0-3, including a 64-59 defeat to eventual champions Tunisia.

Conde says a longer and better preparation would help the team's cohesion and points out that there is no cohesion without spending time as a team and the only way to create that is to have an all-inclusive preparation. "I have confidence in us and in our potentials," he noted.

Conde who lived most of his life in Guinea arrived in France at the age of 18 and admits that Guinea has enormous basketball potential.

"There are young people who can make the game of basketball thrive in the country. What I can do personally is to open the way for them as best as I can by showing them the example and representing them wherever I go."

Daouda Conde celebrates after Guinea overcame a 7-point deficit in Game 1 to beat Equatorial Guinea in the last day of the Qualifiers

Conde who was a member of the Guinea squad at the AfroBasket 2017 in Tunisia said he would want to be known for helping the growth of basketball in his country.

"As someone who gives everything and who can be counted on and off the pitch, I would like to be someone that all enjoy watching play because I take great pleasure in practicing this sport which is my passion," Conde concluded.

FIBA