Ndizeye: ''Rwanda cannot afford mistakes in tough qualifying group''

KIGALI (Rwanda) - Rwanda look to have turned the corner on the international basketball scene, following their impressive showing at the AfroBasket they played host to last year.

In the group stages of that tournament, the East African nation overcame the once-mighty Angola and a strong Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) team to progress to the Last 16, but fell to Guinea at that stage with a 2-2 mark.

As Rwanda prepare for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers that will take place in Dakar, Senegal (February 25-27), they will not be short of inspiration. Those victories over 11-time AfroBasket champions and the strong DRC can be the go-to source as Rwanda ready themselves for World Cup Group B opponents, Tunisia, Cameroon and South Sudan.

"AS A TEAM, WE HAVE SIMILAR GOALS. WE WANT TO QUALIFY, BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE IT ONE GAME AT A TIME."- Dieudonne Ndizeye

Reflecting on those AfroBasket victories Rwandan, shooting guard Dieudonne Ndizeye says their memorable wins were a confidence booster, but they also needed to learn from their losses.

"It was a great experience for us to get the wins over Angola and the DRC. I think it was our first time beating a big team like Angola. So, that was definitely big for us," said Ndizeye, a three-time Rwanda League champion with local club Patriots Basketball Club.

"We also have to fix our mistakes because we also lost to Cape Verde (in Group A of AfroBasket 2021) and Guinea. We have to go there (to Dakar) having corrected the mistakes."

 
Yes, Rwanda cannot afford to make mistakes, especially when they come up against the technically savvy African champions, Tunisia, a physical Cameroon and a rising South Sudan.

Ndizeye noted what each of their opponents brings to the table.

"All three teams will be tough. Tunisia, of course, are the AfroBasket champions, and they will bring a lot of pedigree. The games will be difficult, but we have to plan how we overcome the opposition. We also have to play well to get those victories," said Ndizeye.

"I have never faced Cameroon before, but I have watched videos of them, in AfroBasket Qualifiers and the AfroBasket. They have a physical style of play and have experienced players who play in different parts of Europe. We know South Sudan pretty well. We played against them in the AfroBasket Qualifiers. We have to prepare well for them."

Dieudonne Ndizeye averaged 7.8 points at 2021 AfroBasket 

The Cheikh Sarr-coached Rwanda have enjoyed a change in fortune, but they face a tough test in the Qualifiers for the tournament to be held in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines next year.

Asked how far they can go in the Qualifiers, 25-year-old Ndizeye answered in a measured manner.

"As a team, we have similar goals. We want to qualify, but we have to take it one game at a time," said Ndizeye, who was also complimentary of Senegal-born Sarr's work with Rwanda.

Ndizeye added: "Sarr is a good coach with lots of experience. He has been to the AfroBasket and World Cup. He is working to uplift the Rwandan basketball players. Both men and women. He is now helping us build on our performances from the AfroBasket."

FIBA