Morocco's Reda Ali Harras targets Semi-Finals at AfroBasket 2015

RABAT (AfroBasket 2015) - 1965 was the year that saw Moroccan basketball reach its pinnacle. After claiming a bronze medal at the inaugural AfroBasket in 1962 in Cairo, Egypt and a silver medal earned on home soil (in Casablanca) in 1964, the Moroccans won their first continental title at the third edition of the tournament held from 28 March-2 April 1965 in Tunis, Tunisia.

Since then, Morocco have not got back on the top step of AfroBasket's podium in 18 participations in the tournament.

Fifty years later, Morocco are set to return to the scene of their first title, as they will compete this summer in the 28th edition of Africa's most prestigious basketball tournament taking place from 19-30 August in the Tunisian cities of Nabeul and Tunis.

Morocco will compete in Group B - along with defending champions Angola, Mozambique and a wild card to be determined later this month - at the 16-team tournament, which serves as a qualifier for the 2016 Olympics.

While several generations of players have come and gone, Morocco still has a team filled with talent.

Reda Ali Harras thinks that Morocco "is in a fairly balanced group and could have a good tournament."

The 22-year-old point guard will be making his third appearance in the African flagship tournament and is full of ambition.

"Morocco's target is simple: to make a better impact than what we did at AfroBasket 2013 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. We will try our best to reach the Semi-Finals. Because we have to honour Morocco's flag," he told fiba.com.

At AfroBasket, the paramount is the collective victory. Thus my only concern is to be ready anytime the coach will trust me. - Harras

Achieving this goal is not impossible for Morocco, who are the 10th ranked African nation in the FIBA bwin World Ranking. They can rely on key players including Abderrahim Najah, Abdelhakim Zouita and Soufian Kourodu, who were all crucial in the 84-71 win against Algeria in the return leg of the Group A qualifier, with 16, 17 and 19 points respectively and can help Morocco achieve better result in Tunisia.

"If they stay injury-free, this group will be a solid and huge asset for Morocco," said Harras, who averaged 3.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in Abijdan.

Morocco finished eighth at the last two editions of AfroBasket.

FIBA