AfroBasket 2017 Preview
Africa's biggest basketball tournament for men - and one of the most entertaining, thrilling and at times unpredictable tournaments on the basketball calendar - gets underway tomorrow. It will see sixteen of the continent's best teams compete, playing in four equal groups, the two best from each advancing to the knockout round.
We preview all of the teams at AfroBasket, how they stack up and their chances of taking the tournament title.
One of the most flamboyant teams in the continent, defending champions Nigeria quickly become crowd favourites. With plenty of the highest-caliber international experience, particularly from captain Ike Diogu and centre Shane Lawal, they go into the competition a highly feared team.
They face stiff competition in Group A from well organised and intelligent Cote d'Ivoire, a team on the rise in Mali, and Democratic Republic of Congo, who are strong and exuberant on close range offence while alert and powerful on defence - a tradition carried on from their best-known player, Dikembe Mutumbo.
No other African team has achieved as much as Angola - out of 19 appearances, they have won eleven titles and only failed to win a medal twice. Through all of their incarnations, their strength, speed and skill are unmatched and are able to devise the best game plan and execute it to perfection.
Looking to upset the African kings will be Central African Republic, who bring with them plenty of experience from the French national league, Morocco - whose quick play, ability to create plays and superb offensive leader Abdelhakim Zouita make them one of the most overlooked teams in the continent - and Uganda, who are playing in only their second African championship.
Co-hosts Tunisia have more to offer than Dallas Mavericks star Salah Mejri. They are a vibrant and dynamic teamable to pull of a variety of plays both on offence and defence. Gold medallists in 2011, Tunisia are at the peak of their powers.
Group C arguably the weakest in the field, which could see a big opportunity open up for Cameroon, a team with a powerful front court who are yet to experience any major success. These two teams will be facing off against Guinea, who return to AfroBasket for the first time since 1985, and Rwanda, who are most impressive shooting from long distance.
Becoming surprise finalists in 2013 established Egypt as one of the continent's most impressive teams - and a side never to underestimate. A composed and confident unit who take command of the game, they have cemented themselves at the top of African basketball.
Meanwhile, Senegal have a lot to be excited about. As well as co-hosting the tournament, they have some of the most exciting talent to come out of the continent in recent years - most of all Gorgui Dieng of the Minnesota Timberwolves - who they will be hoping will take them far in this tournament. They face difficult opening competition, however, from Mozambique - best on the fast break and good at both passing and shooting- and South Africa, who are alert on the floor and good at passing, and have a big offensive threat in Quintin Denyssen.
Keep up to date with AfroBasket 2017 on the tournament's official website.
