Algerians eager to contend against Africa's best

ALGIERS (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - The general feeling among members of Algeria's men's national team is that the North Africans can and will do whatever it takes to become a continental powerhouse again.

Ever since they hosted AfroBasket 2005, in which they lost to Nigeria in the 3rd-Place Game, the Algerians have experienced some of the lowest moments in their basketball history.

"We always believed in ourselves and that is the mindset we are gonna use moving forward." - Benzegala

They then failed to qualify for Africa's most prestigious tournament three times in a row and needed a wildcard invitation to participate at FIBA AfroBasket 2013.

However, both New York-born Mounir Benzegala - a former NCAA Division 2 with the University of Tampa - and Mohamed Harat believe that is thing of the past. They are here to stay. So much so, that they describe their FIBA AfroBasket 2015 campaign as the beginning of a new era after finishing sixth.

"We always believed in ourselves and that is the mindset we are gonna use moving forward," Benzegala told FIBA.com. "We can do better and we'll do our best to qualify for AfroBasket 2017."

But first, Algeria and other regional teams, members of FIBA Africa Zone 1 - Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco - will play a qualifier to reach Brazzaville, in the Republic of Congo - the set of next summer’s AfroBasket.

They even appointed Ahmed Loubachria who became the third head coach in as many years, replacing Ali Filali who guided the North Africans to their best campaign in over a decade.

"We have a lot of basketball talent in this country, we just need to keep working. We can play against the best teams in Africa," added Benzegala, a skillful point guard who made his debut with the Algeria in Tunisia. 

"As a country, we have to capitalize from last AfroBasket," recalled Harat, the man who led the Algerians in scoring and rebounds and has become a local hero over the course of the past few years.

But, until the AfroBasket qualifiers take place early next year, Benzegala and Harat who both play for local champions GS Petroliers are focused on the FIBA Africa Champions Cup Zone 1 qualifier, which is due to take place from 20-29 November in Morocco.

In the qualifier, which will see two teams advance to the Final Round in Cairo, Egypt, the Algerians will take on Moroccan sides AS Sale and Chabab RIF, Tunisian champions Club Africain and Al Nasser and Al Alhali of Libya.

FIBA