How Tunisia evolved from an average team to becoming a FIBA Africa giant in a decade

TUNIS (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - In the lead-up to the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 to be co-hosted by Senegal and Tunisia, we take a closer look at all 16 participating teams competing in the championship running from September 8-16.

Team: Tunisia
NIKE FIBA World Ranking: 21st (Number 2 in Africa)
Last participation at FIBA AfroBasket: 2015 (6 wins, 1 loss) 3rd-Place. 
Best results in the history of FIBA AfroBasket: African Champions in 2011
Qualified for FIBA AfroBasket 2017: Winners of FIBA Africa Zone 1 qualifiers against Morocco and Algeria.

History/Qualification: Although the Tunisians are currently the second highest ranked african team on the NIKE FIBA World Ranking, it wasn't always like this. 

There was a time when Tunisians returned home frustrated by their poor level of competitiveness at FIBA AfroBasket.

It has taken the North Africans almost a decade to move from an average African team to becoming a powerhouse on the continent.   

Participant in nine of the last ten editions of the African Championship (absent in 1997), Tunisia embraced consistency and continuity as a key factor to change the course of their basketball history.  

So, it came as no surprise that Tunisia claimed a Third-Place at FIBA AfroBasket 2009, and as a result, a qualification for the FIBA Basketball World Cup the following year.

A year later, in 2011, Tunisia shocked Angola in the Final to win their first-ever African title and a ticket to the 2012 London Olympics.

The decision of co-hosting this year's FIBA Africa most important competition (along with Senegal) came a few months after Tunisia defeated regional rivals Morocco and Algeria in the FIBA Africa Zone 1 qualifier.

This is the third time that Tunisia organize the tournament, having done so in 1987 and 2015.  

Key players: Makram Ben Romdhane and Mourad El Mabrouk play a major role in Tunisia's tenacious playing style.  

Rising Star: Omar Abada and Mohamed Adam Rassil.

While the former - a point guard with local side Etoile Sportive Rades - is set to make his second FIBA AfroBasket appearance, the latter - a 19-year-old small forward - has made a splash with Tunisian youth national teams, and will now try to make an impact with the senior team. 

Outlook: As mentioned earlier in this article, consistency has been a key factor in Tunisia's success in recent years. 

However, this year's FIBA AfroBasket co-hosts have experienced a major shift in their leadership.  

Adel Tlatli - who coached the team for over a decade - has stepped aside, leaving the coaching role to four-time FIBA AfroBasket winner with Angola, Coach Mario Palma.

Both Salah Mejri and Michael Roll - who proved to be crucial for Tunisia at FIBA AfroBasket 2015 - will not be part of the team this year for injury and personal reasons.

While the absences of Tlatli, Mejri and Roll appear to be a concern for Tunisia, this hasn't prevented them from dreaming big.

And, Palma has prepared his players to avoid being under pressure during the tournament. 

Two years ago, they reached the Semi-Finals undefeated in five games before stumbling to Angola, in a very uncharacteristic and low-scoring game for the former African champions.

And although they bounced back shortly after by defeating Senegal in the Third-Place Game, they left the competition with a sense of unfinished business.

Possible Outcome:  The Tunisians have made it clear on a number of occasions that they are prepared to play their best games to bring back the African crown to Tunisia.  

The NIKE FIBA World Rankings epitomise Tunisia's real competitiveness, and they are capable of reaching the Semi-Finals and maybe lift the trophy on Saturday, September 16.   

FIBA