Primeiro D'Agosto face tough opposition in defence of African Champions Cup crown

TUNIS (African Champions Cup) - Angolan side Primeiro D'Agosto will need to overcome tough Tunisian opposition if they are to contend for their ninth African Champions Cup (ACC) title.

This year's edition of the ACC runs from 11 to 20 December in Tunis, Tunisia. Reigning champions D'Agosto and eight other African teams will be facing, not one - as was the case last year - but three Tunisian clubs on their home soil.

Club Africain, Etoile Sportive Rades and U.S Monastir will represent Tunisia in the 12-team event.

The Tunisians' chances of winning the trophy for the first time since 2011 - when Etoile Sportif du Sahel upset D'Agosto in the ACC Final in Sale, Morocco - have never been bigger, not only because of their three-team representation, but also because of their quality rosters.

In Tunis, the ACC will feature some of the best Africa-based performers.

Tunisian international Makrem Ben Romdhane, the 2011 ACC Most Valuable Player, who spent last season playing for UCAM Murcia in Spain's ACB League, is now in the ranks of another North African team, the Egyptian side Sporting Alexandria.

The only Egyptian team in the tournament will count also on Wael Khedr and Youssef Sousha, two members of Egypt's team at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Last December, D'Agosto, the winners of the ACC in both 2012 and 2013, stunned hosts Etoile Sportif du Sahel 68-61 to clinch their eighth continental trophy and become Africa's most successful team at club competition.

However, so much Tunisian representation in the tournament means a tougher challenge, according to D'Agosto play caller Paulo Macedo, a former Angolan international, who is now chasing his third consecutive ACC title as a coach.

"It's going to be tough," he told FIBA.com. "Considering that Tunisia will be hosting the tournament for the second time in two years, it suggests they have capable teams to compete for the African title," he explained.

Joaquim Gomes, Armando Costa, Hermenegildo Santos, Edson Ndoniema, Islando Manuel, Reggie Moore and Felizardo Ambrosio - who all were part of last year's winning team - are back. 

The one notable absentee is Cedric Isom. The shooting guard who sparked the Angolans to the title in Sousse, Tunisia, 12 months ago - and unsurprisingly was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament - is expected to return to competition in January as he is currently recovering from an ankle injury.

Macedo went to offer these words of wisdom: "The team that makes the fewest errors in the Preliminary Round as well as in the Final Round will win the trophy."

Gomes, who has played most of his senior career for D'Agosto and turns 34 later this month, knows what it means to facing North African teams in North Africa.

"It is always tough to face North African teams," he told FIBA.com. "No matter where we face them, they are always really good.

"Tunisian teams, for instance, they play a different game style comparing to ours. They move the ball more often than us, but we play a more aggressive playing style.

"As defending champions we have to play like real champions, respect our opponents, play the best we can in order to retain our continental title."

Results of the draw for the 2014 African Champions Cup (ACC):
Group A: Club Africain (TUN), Recreativo do Libolo (ANG), Kano Pillars (NGR), Sporting Club Alexandria (EGY), Malabo Kings (GEQ), BCM Mayotte (FRA).
Group B: Primeiro d'Agosto (ANG), ES Rades (TUN), Mark Mentors (NGR), US Monastir (TUN), ASB Mazembe (COD), Abidjan Basketball Club (CIV).

Go to http://tunis2014.fibaafrica.com/ for full coverage of the tournament and watch game highlights and post-game press conferences on FIBA's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/fiba.

FIBA