Team Profile: Can Rwanda step up in the competitive AfroBasket scene?

    Preview

    Cheikh Sarr and Rwanda face an uphill battle at the AfroBasket.

    KIGALI (Rwanda) - Rwanda is one of the countries that has made considerable investments in basketball, making it a center of the game in Africa.

    Unfortunately, the East African country has yet to experience success on the continent.

    As the clock ticks down to the start of the AfroBasket tournament in Angola (August 12-24), Rwanda will be looking to transform from participants to competitors.

    Rwanda beat Gabon twice during the qualifiers played in Dakar, Senegal and Rabat, Morocco.

    World Ranking presented by Nike

    15th (Africa), 93rd (World Ranking)

    Rwanda will be heading to its eighth AfroBasket in Angola, hoping for better results.

    Road to Angola 2025

    The Rwandese had an excruciating qualifying campaign, losing to giants Senegal and Cameroon in November and February.

    They could only beat Gabon to finish with a 2-4 record and qualified as the best third-place team in Group A.

    AfroBasket History

    Rwanda first qualified for the AfroBasket tournament in 2007 in Angola. The team has never finished higher than ninth place or advanced beyond the round of 16.

    Coaching Staff

    Cheikh Sarr

    Senegalese coach Cheikh Sarr has been at the helm of Rwanda's coaching team since 2021, and he will lead the team again in Angola.

    He led his homeland's men's and women's teams to the FIBA Basketball World Cups in 2014 and 2018, respectively.

    Key players

    Ntore Habimana

    Ntore Habimana

    Habimana had strong performances in the three qualifier games he played in February.

    Against Senegal, he scored 12 points and had seven rebounds.

    Against Cameroon, he scored 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and had 12 assists. In the final game against Gabon, he had 18 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.

    Habimana can hold his own against the big teams, and Rwanda will rely on his sharp shooting and ability to facilitate.

    Axel Mpoyo

    Mpoyo is a sharpshooter, and Coach Sarr will expect the APR player to be pinpoint accurate for Rwanda in Angola. He was a 41.9% (13/31) shooter from three-point range in the qualifiers and averaged 16.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and two assists in the three games he played.

    Osborn Shema

    The big man played in all six qualifying games, averaging 10.5 points and 4.8 rebounds. At the AfroBasket, Rwanda will rely on Shema's 2.11 cm (6 ft 11 in) frame for buckets close to the rim and rebounds.

    Outlook

    Rwanda has dedicated resources to building its basketball programs, and the expectation is for the work done on the ground to yield results. In the competitive AfroBasket scene, upsetting the apple cart will be tough for Rwanda.

    FIBA

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