Cipriano ruled out of AfroBasket, Lopez calls up Morais and Cisse

LUANDA (AfroBasket 2015) - Angola ace Olimpio Cipriano will miss out this year's AfroBasket due to a left hand injury, the team's head coach Moncho Lopez confirmed on Wednesday.

To replace the 33-year-old point guard, Lopez has called up Braulio Morais and Malick Cisse.

"It's frustrating because he [Cipriano] is player that I wanted in the team," Lopez said.

"But I had to be realistic and consider his basketball career. So I thought he should stay out to be fully recovered."

We have a tough group and we have to be highly prepared for the challenges ahead of us. - Lopez

Cipriano becomes the second influential member of the Angolan team to be sidelined due to injury, after Milton Barros was officially ruled out in May.

The 1.94m guard, who sparked Angola to an 80-69 win over Korea in their 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup campaign, had a modest campaign in the Angolan BIC Basket league, and was unable to help his Recreativo do Libolo team to defend their national title.

Although he struggled with injuries this past season, Cipriano was able to make an impact.

Back in 2013, Cipriano played a crucial role helping Angola beating hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the Semi-Finals.

Although both Cisse and Morais - the younger brother of AfroBasket 2013 MVP Carlos Morais - are yet to play for the Angolan senior team, coach Lopez has reasons to remain positive, considering their tremendous potential as well as their performances throughout the Angolan championship.

If things go according to Braulio Morais' plan, he could make his debut with the senior side, having represented Angola at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand.

As for Cisse, he is often dubbed as one of the biggest young talents in Primeiro D'Agosto's ranks.

Meanwhile, as Cipriano is officially ruled out for the AfroBasket, Lopez has welcomed Carlos Morais, who missed the first week of Angola's training camp in Luanda.

Morais has spent the past few weeks in the USA, evaluating his recovery from a knee injury.

Talking to the local media, Morais ensured that he is "hundred percent ready to help Angola" in Tunisia.

Lopez and his squad travelled to Spain on Thursday where they will hold the remainder of their preparations before traveling to Tunisia.

The 11-time African champions, who have been drawn in Group B with Morocco, Mozambique and Senegal, are expected to face Venezuela on Spanish soil.

Both Yanick Moreira - who is trying his luck with the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA Summer League - and Silvio Sousa, are expected to join the team in Spain.

AfroBasket 2015 will take place in Nabeul and Tunis, Tunisia from 19-30 August.

FIBA