Can experienced Angolans win in Bamako again?

LUANDA (FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017) - In the lead-up to the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017, we take a closer look at all 12 participating teams competing in the championship running from August 18-27 in Bamako, Mali.

Team: Angola
NIKE FIBA World Ranking: 18th
Last participation at FIBA Women's AfroBasket: 2015 (5 wins, 3 losses; 4th place)
Best results in the history of FIBA Women's AfroBasket: African champions in 2011 and 2013. 
Qualified for FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017: Qualified by virtue of finishing in fourth-place at FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2015.

History/Qualification: This year's FIBA Women's AfroBasket marks Angola's 17th straight appearance in the history of the competition. 

Ever since Angola became an independent country from Portugal in 1975, women's basketball has produced some brilliant talents, despite some ups and downs they have faced along the way. 

As hosts of the 1983 edition of the six-team African championship, Angola claimed a disappointing sixth-place with a 1-4 record while Zaire (now DR Congo) claimed their first-ever continental trophy.  

After successive attempts to lift Africa's most important women's basketball trophy, the Angolans finally got the job done in 2011 in Bamako, Mali.   

And half of their Bamako heroes - including Sonia Guadalupe, Ngiendula Filipe, Felizarda Jorge, Fineza Eusebio, Cristina Matiquite and Luisa Tomas - are still part of the team and could return to a place they now consider a symbolic one.   

Inspired by their 2011 Bamako success, which saw the Southern Africans qualify for the London Olympics - their first-ever Olympics appearance - Angola stormed into Maputo, Mozambique, two years later to claim their second straight African title and become the second African nation - after Nigeria - to win back-to-back continental titles. 

In the process, Angola secured one of the two tickets for African teams for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2014 in Turkey.

Key player: Two years ago, USA-born Italee Lucas was prevented from representing her adoptive country, but the electrifying point guard refused to throw in the towel. A renowned player across the African continent especially for her successful club career with Angolan champions Inter Clube de Luanda, Lucas has rapidly become the team's leader on and off the court.

Two months ago, she was named the 2017 MVP of Angolan Championship. 

Rising Star: Born in France to Angolan parents, Rudiane Eduardo is a 1.85m forward with an ability to attack the basket. She is yet to make her debut for Angola in FIBA competitions. 

Outlook: The Angolans may consider Bamako a symbolic place in their basketball history, however, playing without two-time FIBA Women's AfroBasket MVP Nacissela Mauricio - who has retired from her playing career - and Nadir Manuel, who is expecting her first child, could prove challenging for Jaime Covilha's team. 

They have an experienced and talented group of players at their disposal, but it remains to be seen if they can translate those attributes into yet another successful African championship.

Covilha, a brilliant basketball mind, is to make his second straight appearance in the tournament after leading the Angolans to a disappointing fourth-place two years ago in Cameroon.  

Possible Outcome:  If they are able of building a team chemistry and improve their rebounding and defensive game, they could reach the last four.

FIBA