Angola without Barros at AfroBasket 2015

LUANDA (AfroBasket 2015) - Angola guard Milton Barros is likely to miss out on AfroBasket 2015 due to a knee injury, but fellow Angolan international Eduardo Mingas is backing a trio of guards to help fill Barros' shoes.

The 30-year-old guard underwent a knee surgery last week in Portugal and is expected to sit out over three months.

As a result of his recovery time, the Angolans will attempt to defend their continental title in the Tunisian cities of Nabeul and Tunis, from 19 to 30 August, without one of their most relentless competitors.

Although Barros's absence is a blow for the reigning AfroBasket champions, Mingas, who teams up with Barros at local club Recreativo do Libolo, feels Domingos Bonifacio, Paulo Santana and Gildo dos Santos could have a chance.

Barros is very experienced and always brings positive energy. We're going to miss him, but we should stay positive. - Mingas

The point guard position has been a hot topic of discussion for the Angolans, given that Armando Costa is yet to find excellent form this season.

"I talked to him [Barros] over the weekend. He is in good spirit, but he surely won't recover in time to play in Tunisia," Mingas told FIBA.com.

Barros and Mingas helped Libolo win the African Champions Cup last December, and the pair headlined the ACC All-Tournament Team along with Makram Ben Romdhane (Sporting Alexandria), Marcus Haislip (Club Africain) and Averon Matthews (ES Rades).

The 1.83m guard has been key for the 11-time African champions over the past few years.

Last summer, Barros came up with 10 points and to help the Angolans open their FIBA Basketball World Cup campaign with an 80-69 win over Korea. They lost to Lithuania, Mexico and Slovenia before finishing on a victorious note with a 91-83 defeat of Australia.

Angola have been drawn in Group B with Mozambique, Senegal and Morocco at AfroBasket 2015.

FIBA