Preview: Can Group E teams secure two more World Cup spots?
Angola on Friday (24-26 February) will be the setting where three teams from Group E of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers have the opportunity to secure their ticket for the global showpiece.
LUANDA (Angola) - The Angolan capital of Luanda will be the setting where teams from Group E of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers have the opportunity to secure their ticket for the global showpiece later this year.
From Friday, February 24 until Sunday, February 26, the magnificent Kilamba Arena - on the outskirts of Luanda - will witness Angola, Cape Verde, Nigeria, Guinea and Uganda, try to close the World Cup African Qualifiers campaign on high notes.
Group E leader Cote d'Ivoire (7-0) are currently the only African team that has qualified for the 32-nation FIBA Basketball World Cup that will take place in Indonesia, Japan and Philippines.
The teams that finish in the top two places of Groups E and F, followed by the best third-place team from both groups earn the right to represent Africa in this year's World Cup.
Can Group E teams secure two more World Cup tickets?
As it stands, hosts Angola, Cape Verde and Nigeria appear in strong positions to battle it out for the final two qualifying spots.
Group E
9/18 games played
All First Round results carry over to Second Round
| GAMES | GAME POINTS | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | |
| 1 |
|
7 | 7 | 0 | 100 | 523 | 469 | 54 | 74.7 | 67 | 14 |
| 2 |
|
7 | 5 | 2 | 71.4 | 508 | 443 | 65 | 72.6 | 63.3 | 12 |
| 3 |
|
7 | 4 | 3 | 57.1 | 511 | 486 | 25 | 73 | 69.4 | 11 |
| 4 |
|
7 | 3 | 4 | 42.9 | 549 | 517 | 32 | 78.4 | 73.9 | 10 |
| 5 |
|
7 | 1 | 6 | 14.3 | 443 | 528 | -85 | 63.3 | 75.4 | 8 |
| 6 |
|
7 | 1 | 6 | 14.3 | 507 | 598 | -91 | 72.4 | 85.4 | 8 |
** Qualified for the World Cup
Upcoming Games - February 24, Game Day 10 (Luanda, Angola)
13:00 GMT+1 - Nigeria v Cote d'Ivoire (First meeting: 78-66)
15:30 GMT+1 - Cape Verde v Guinea (First meeting: 65-48)
18:00 GMT+1 - Uganda v Angola (First meeting: 62-84)
Angola, who are aiming for a ninth World Cup appearance, will be buoyed by playing in front of their home crowd. They may be rebuilding after a two-decade dominance of the African basketball scene, but they have enough talent to realise their aspirations of making it to Asia.
Star players to watch
Childe Dundao, Ivan Almeida, Jeff Xavier
Childe Dundao is seen here in action against Cote d'Ivoire in Benguela, Angola
Angola, who sit in second place in Group E, have a proven scorer in Petro de Luanda's point guard Childe Dundao who has proven to be a worthy second scoring option.
Dundao's 11.4 points and 3.7 assists per game have ensured that the 5-2 Angola keep their eye on World Cup qualification.
If 2,06m (6ft 9in) forward Silvio de Souza, who currently plays for Chorale Roanne in France's PRO A, answers his country's call, it will possibly add size and physicality to the Angolans frontcourt.
Third-placed Cape Verde, who have a record of 4-3, will push hard to unseat Angola for the second automatic qualifying spot in Group E.
Should that bid fail, the islanders will rely on results in Group F going their way so they can secure the best third-place finisher position.
Cape Verde will hope big man Walter Tavares, who will be on club duty for Real Madrid when qualifiers begin on Thursday, will make it for the remaining World Cup qualifying fixtures.
Tavares' 15.8 points and 12.4 rebounds per game helped put the Blue Sharks in a desirable position, but with possibly not being available, other players will have to step up.
Ivan Almeida
The returns of small forward Anderson Correia, and shooting guard Jeff Xavier are great news for the islanders. The veteran sibling duo of Joel and Ivan Almeida can also step up when needed. Guard Ivan has been among the leaders in rebounds (8.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game).
Nigeria, who are fourth, have called up a team of mostly local players.
The D' Tigers, who have an outside chance of qualification with a record of 3-4, are probably using these qualifiers to consider players that could be options for the future.
Bottom of the group teams Guinea (fifth) and Uganda (sixth) will focus on rebuilding for future tournaments as their races have sadly ended.
FIBA