BULAWAYO (Zimbabwe) - For the coming days, the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF)’s Hall 4 will hustle and bustle with the activity of the FIBA AfroCan Zone 6 Qualifiers.

Four teams, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe will battle for the right to represent the Zone in the 2023 FIBA AfroCan in July.

The FIBA Africa Zone 6 qualifier will run from Monday, February 20 until February 28.

It should have been a five-team tournament. But South Africa decided to withdraw, thus leaving the field to Mozambique, Malawi, hosts Zimbabwe and Zambia.

What is at stake? The only ticket available for Zone 6. And things look bright for Mozambique as they will look on repeating the feat they achieved in 2019, when they qualified for the inaugural FIBA AfroCan in Bamako, Malwi.

Who will make it to the high table?

Things look bright for Mozambique as they seek to prove that they belong to the upper end of basketball in Africa.

A regular feature at the FIBA AfroBasket, though not at the winning end, the Lusophones now want to make some noise as they start their quest for the ticket to the FIBA AfroCan finals.

Led by veteran , who was called in alongside Elves Houana, Ermelindo Novela and Hugo Martins, the Mozambican side also has some new faces, coached by Milagre Macome, who was at the helm of the team three years ago.

Hugo Martins

So, Mozambique have the experience to be a contender for the ticket. But will they be able to fend off their opponents? This question arises as they surprisingly lost to Zimbabwe, back in 2019.

But they eventually paved their way to the top of the Zone 6 with a 3-1 mark, outscoring Zimbabwe and beating Zambia twice in as many games.

Zambia bring experienced squad

While Mozambique could be the main attraction of the tournament, we shall also keep an eye on some of the Zambian players. Coach Cuthbert Tembo has called in veteran Simukwela Lubinda, who has played in two BAL Qualifiers (2019 and 2021), , who plies his trade with Urunani BC in Burundi, and six other players who featured at the recent BAL Qualifiers for Matero Magic.

Simukwela Lubinda has featured for the Pacers at the BAL Qualifiers

“They have a good deal of exposure, so they have experience that we can count on," said Tembo to FIBA.basketball in a recent interview.

For the Zimbabwe national team, the home court will bring along a tremendous advantage: home fans. And they will look forward to making it to their second appearance at a continental tournament.

For that, they will need to repeat their 2019 feat when they overcame Mozambique. They will also have to remain consistent in their efforts if they wish to make it past the Qualifying round.

As for Malawi, it seems that they are on a learning curve as they return to the African scene after years of absence.

FIBA