Morocco upbeat ahead of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers

LUANDA (FIBA Africa Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - Rejuvenated Morocco will be looking to continue from where they left off at FIBA AfroBasket 2017 and bring the same energy into the FIBA Africa Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers Group C that tips off on Friday through to Sunday in the Angolan capital. 

Said Bouzidi's outfit is out to prove that their achievements in Tunisia were not a one-off but the continuation of the rise of a nation that is yearning to be at the high table among the basketball powerhouses. 

Dependable forward John Walter Wilkins is confident that along with his teammates, they could cause upsets in what has been labelled the "group of death". 

"Ultimately, we expect to qualify for the World Cup but it is a tough group with tough teams. We played Angola and Egypt at AfroBasket and we beat them so they are going to look for revenge. We will be prepared for the battle." - Wilkins

Speaking exclusively to FIBA.basketball, the 28-year old Wilkins said, "If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. It is going to be a tough test for us now and in June. We work hard everyday. We hope to get some good wins."

"Ultimately, we expect to qualify for the World Cup but it is a tough group with tough teams. We played Angola and Egypt at AfroBasket and we beat them so they are going to look for revenge. We will be prepared for the battle."

Wilkins insisted that Morocco will not be complacent in their quest to challenge even the best teams on the African continent. 

Morocco open their account against hosts Angola and will have to deal with a fully packed Kilamba Arena but Wilkins and his teammates are up for the challenge. 

"We shall shut out the crowd and focus on the game like the coach told us when we played against Tunisia. That is what we want to do."

"We have a balanced team at the moment with the younger players bringing some speed into our game, something we haven't seen in Morocco in years and we have good shooters."

"The bigger picture is to be able to play at home in front of our home fans. That would be really big and it is our motivation."

Morocco finished fourth at the FIBA AfroBasket 2017, their highest placing since winning bronze at the 1980 edition of Africa's flagship basketball tournament. 

FIBA