AfroBasket 2015 - Power Ranking : Week 3

Tunisie

They are in their straight line of their preparation ahead of AfroBasket 2015. They take on Cameroon 83 - 64 in warm-up game. Salah Mejri and Michael Roll had a pivotal role as they poured in respectively 15 and 13 points. This a great reason to maintain them at this first place.
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Angola

They have registered the comeback of their 24-year-old center who announced few days ago, his decision to pull out of his national team because of a preseason commitment with the Los Angeles Clippers. Now that he has joined the team in Spain, the reigning have got a great asset for their title defense.

Nigeria

D’Tigers are gathering all their best weapons to claim first AfroBasket title. The team that came third in 2011 in Madagascar is performing well since the resume training camp. Two of their best player including Al Faruq Aminu – who has recently, joins the Portland Trailblazers - and Udoh will boost the team for this month’s tournament.

Egypt

Coach Ahmed Marei left last week end for Lithuania for the remainder of their preparation for the tournament that will tips off in nine days in Tunisia. He will be working with a 14 player squad including Assem Marei who led all the players in rebounding two years ago, in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. This is more than great news for the pharaoh’s who climbed 1 place in this week’s ranking.

Cameroon

Thy showed some defensive weakness in their warm-up game against hosts Tunisia. Despite Bitee’s great performance, they still have a lot to improve. At the moment they cannot achieve more 5th. But if Mbah a Moute finally joined them the could dream big.

Senegal

They are facing now some internal management problems and this is not done to serve their cause and their of winning it all in Tunisia. Even if they have a star-studded team, this organizational problem could affect their campaign.

Algeria

There is still some work to be done for Algeria ahead of AfroBasket 2015. Following their 1-1 record in their friendly game against Mali, head coach Ali Filali, has reshaped his preliminary squad and call up France-based Medhi Cheriet, Faysal Sahraoui and Samir Mekdad. With these players in better form, Algeria could claim 7th place later this month.

Mali

After the first part of their training camp that brought to Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria where thy player four warm-up games, Mali is back home for the remainder of their preparation.
All their key players including Mohamed Tangara and Namory Boundy are injury free and that could help them achieve more their 15place two years ago in Abidjan., Cote d’Ivoire.

Central Africa Republic

New appointed head coach Aubin Goporo and his men are setting things in order for better performance in Tunisia. But they have to deal with a blow as point guard Michael Mokongo will follow the tournament of court. Central Africans are also still waiting for Romain Sato, who is eyeing a comeback. Finishing at 9th place is realistic for them.

Morocco

Whatever happens, Morocco do not have the strength to win the title. With a newly-appointed coach who is in the process of getting to know the players, ninth place is not a bad ranking.

Cote d'Ivoire

After two weeks training camp, all they key players are went back in their clubs. Head coach Hugues Occansey has called up news players for the remainder of their preparation. If thing remain unchanged, Cote d’Ivoire could not expect more than 11th this summer.

Cape Verde

They were among the underdogs of the tournament. But now that it is confirm that neither Edy Tavares nor Jeff Xavier will join the team, they connot claim more than a 12th place.

Gabon

They are facing the problems we pointed out last week. At the moment there is no Stephan Lasme to seen any where. That is obvious that they cannot move forward in the ranking.

Mozambique

It remains to be seen how Mozambique will perform in a big stage such as the AfroBasket 2015 without Silvio Letela, a three-point specialist who captained the Southern Africans over the course of the past few years. The country’s basketball officials’ are aiming at Quarter-Finals. Their training camp in Spain will tell if they are right.

Uganda

The Silvebucks have two war-up games against Kenya and Rwanda in sight. And two new players including Brandon Sebirumbi and Marial Dhal will certainly feature for the first time with the AfroBasket debutants. Let’s wait to see what Uganda could achieve this summer.

Zimbabwe

Like Uganda, they have not yet give the prove that they expect more than this 16th place. But maybe they hiding their game system in order to stun everybody in Tunisia. So wait and see.