MOZ - Magolico and Mozambique aim for best AfroBasket finish in decades

MAPUTO (AfroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - It has been three decades since Mozambique's men's national team accomplished their best result of a fifth-place finish at the AfroBasket, but Octavio Magolico is now eyeing higher goals.

Magolico has not missed an AfroBasket since first representing his country at the 2005 edition of the tournament, held in Algeria.

At the time, a relatively unknown Milagre Macome coached the team that finished 11th in a 12-team competition.

Both Macome and Magolico will again be wearing Mozambique's colours at this summer's FIBA Africa flagship event in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, from 20 to 31 August.

Macome says he is more experienced and able to deal with pressure of an international tournament.

When he learned of the teams Mozambique will face in Group C of the Preliminary Round in Abidjan, he was realistic about their chances.

The tournament, he said, will be a tough one for Mozambique, "but not impossible."

Mozambique are the lowest ranked team in their pool that includes Angola, Cape Verde and Central African Republic.

Macome and his team have been going through their preparations since April and he hopes to have a competitive team by the time they travel to Ivory Coast.

Mozambique's men’s team has not missed an Afrobasket since 1997, although they have a modest record in the tournament's history.

Just like Macome, Magolico believes Mozambique's opponents are tough to beat, but the current training camp they are holding in Maputo is serving to increase their chances against those teams.

"I don't think our playing style is much different from that of Angola and Cape Verde," the 2.00m center told FIBA.com.

"Personally I did not have a great tournament in Madagascar (in 2011), but I am hoping to play better in Abidjan.

"As for our national team, we are really looking to accomplish our best result, and a sixth-place finish would be satisfactory," he pointed out.

At the 16-team 2011 Afrobasket in Madagascar, Mozambique's team had an average height of 1.92m. Only the host nation (1.89m) were shorter than them. Senegal (2.00m) were by far the tallest team.

"We have a short line-up," Magoliço acknowledged, but, he said "there is a group of young Mozambican players who are as tall as 2.06m that give us some hope to battle hard at both ends of the court. They are still playing for youth teams, but we must care for these players and help them develop their basketball skills."

As it stands, Magolico and his national team are not considered AfroBasket title contenders, but this does not stop the 28-year-old from picking the best team in African scene.

"I have been following the astonishing progress of Tunisia and I still believe they are likely to win the tournament again. They are athletic and play smart basketball," he explained.

The teams that finish in the top three of the AfroBasket will qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

FIBA