Basketball in Africa

	Played	Win	Loss	For	Against	Difference	Points
Beau Vallon Heat	15	12	3	1178	1037	41	27
Baya	15	10	5	1113	920	193	25
PLS Hawks	13	11	2	1114	794	320	24
Mont Fleuri Dawgz	15	8	7	967	927	40	23
Premium Cobras	14	9	5	957	880	77	23
MBU Rockers	15	7	8	991	949	42	22
Drifters	15	4	11	984	1215	-231	19
Angels	12	3	9	821	984	-73	15
RC Dynamics	14	0	14	853	894	-327	14

Two defeats later, Riham Warriors are expected to turn their Airtel National Basketball League form around against eighth-placed Charging Rhino at YMCA court today.

Eighth Final Round
Senegal              67-57     Rwanda
Tunisia               67-77     Egypt
Cape Verde       67-60     Congo-Brazzaville
Morocco             86-81     Algeria
Cameroon          75-42     Mozambique
Ivory Coast        100-60     Burkina Faso
Angola               82-36     Mali

RWANDA men’s basketball team was bundled out of the 27th Africa Cup of Nations – Abidjan 2013 Afrobasket after losing the quarter final berth 57-67 to Senegal last night at the Palais des Sports Treichville, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
The Rwandans began the game on a bright note, clearing out a 2-0 scoring run to close the first half with a 35-33 point’s advantage as they won the first quarter by 15-13 and tied the second quarter 20-20 points.
Senegal needed a strong second half to seal the victory. They posted a 14-7 tally in the third period and finished the game with a 20-15 run.
Rwanda led 55:54 with 5 minutes to go, but Senegal needed a 13-2 run to seal the victory. Lack of concentration hampered Moise Mutokambali’s chances of reaching the last eight.
Senegal’s power forward Abdou Badji showed his leadership as he top-scored for the winners with 20 points and made 8 rebounds while small forward Maleye N’Doye nailed 13. N’Diaye Hamady delivered 8, whilst Louis Adams had 7.
Rwanda’s centre player Kami Kabangu produced 14 points and 12 rebounds, whilst Kenny Wilson had 12, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Lionel Hakizimana nailed 8, whilst Hamza Ruhezamihigo brought 7.

Elsewhere, defending champion of the Africa Cup of Nations-Afrobasket Tunisia followed Rwanda in the exit chamber with a 67-77 points loss to five-time champions Egypt.
Tunisia who finished top of group-B failed to reenact its 2011 tempo thus succumbing  to the more determined Egyptian side that had good command of the game.
Morocco landed a quarter-final slot after registering an 86-81 points win in over-time over Algeria after both sides ended regulation time with 72 points apiece.
Lions of Cameroon recorded an emphatic 75-42 points over Mozambique while Cape Verde rallied to victory in the fourth quarter, the only quarter it won to defeat the Congolese by 67-60 points to secure a place in the quarter-final.
The most successful team in Africa, Angola booked its place in the last eight by dominating the Eagles of Mali with an 82-36 win.

Quarter finals action gets underway today.


Contact email: bonnie.mugabe[at]newtimes.co.rw

As the Nigeria's D'Tigers prepare to battle Central Africa Republic (CAR) in the second round match of the ongoing 2013 Afrobasket Championship in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire today, Coach of the Nigerian team, Ayo Bakare has told the players not to underrate their opponents.
Bakare, who gave the charge while addressing the D'Tigers players, congratulated the players for picking the second round ticket on a clean slate.
He said the players have made a statement to other teams in the competition by beating a highly rated Cameroonian team, adding that "you played yourself into the easier part to the semi-final as you will now avoid Angola and Cote d'Ivoire."
"I am personally proud of you for putting up a star performance and winning a day off for yourselves. You can savour this moment for now but ensure that you raise your game because any team that loses now goes home," he told them at the locker room.
Meanwhile Sports Minister and Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Tijani Umar have both congratulated the players for the victory.
"The minister called to congratulate the players yesterday after the victory and promised to be in Abidjan to boost their morale as they progress in the competition. I am equally happy that despite the injury worries, the players are doing well. They have shown commitment and determination to succeed and I hope they will continue in that spirit," Umar said on telephone yesterday.
Meanwhile, Team Doctor, Suleiman Ohida and Physiotherapist, Ekundayo Ogunkunle, yesterday worked on the players who confessed that the Cameroon match-up stretched them to the limit as they gave Al-Farouk Aminu thumbs up for his sterling performance in the crucial game.
In the other pairings today, Tunisia will face Egypt, Cape Verde will battle Congo while Algeria confront Rwanda. The D'Tigers match against the Central Africa will come up at 5:30 this evening.

Group B, Sunday
Tunisia                  83-81     Rwanda
Burkina Faso      63-84     Morocco
Today, (1/8 Finals)
Tunisia     vs      Egypt   2.30pm
Cape Verde    vs  Congo    3pm
Senegal     vs     Rwanda    7.30pm
Nigeria   vs   Central Africa     10pm

RWANDA take on Senegal in the last eight of the 2013 FIBA Afrobasket Championships for Men today evening at Palaise de Sport Treichvile in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Moize Mutokambali’s team drew the West African giants after finishing third in Group B with a win and two losses, while their opponents also finished second in Group A with two wins and one loss.
In a final and decisive Group B match against Tunisia on Sunday night, Rwanda narrowly missed on registering a win over the reigning champions with an 81-83 defeat in over time.
Tunisia improved to 3-0 record while Rwanda fell at 1-2 record and finished third in the group. Tunisia opened the game with a 26-17 rally, but then Rwanda caught up in the second period.
Rwanda posted a 24-13 surge to take 41:39 half-time lead.  The North African team only needed 15-13 in the fourth period to tie the score at the end of regulation time.
Macram Ben Romdhane top-scored for the winners with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Mejri Salah and Mourad El Mabrouk posted 16 each.
Kenny Gasana answered with a game high 22 points for Rwanda, while Kami Kabange Kami added 20 points and 14 rebounds. Ruhezamihigo Hamza produced 19 points and Shyaka Olivier chipped in with 13 points.
Gasana leads the top scorer’s chart with 66 points and made 16 rebounds in three matches, making an average of 22 points per game in 114 minutes played.
Since he first represented Rwanda at the 2009 Afrobasket, the US-based point guard has made tremendous contributions with his scoring ability. In the past two editions, he has averaged 17 points and 3.7 assists per game.
Morocco finished second in Group B with a 2-1 record after beating Burkina Faso 84-63 while debutants Burkina Faso finished bottom of the table with a 0-3 record.

Head coach Moise Mutokambali said, “We played a good game despite some lapses of lack of concentration in the final seconds of the game against Tunisia. This will boost my team’s chances against Senegal,”

If Rwanda edges past Senegal, they will face the winner between Nigeria and Central Africa Republic in the last four on Wednesday.

Le Nigéria et le Cameroun ont produit l’un des plus beaux matches de la 27ème édition de l’AfroBasket à ce jour alors qu’ils se disputaient la première place du Groupe D avant les huitièmes de finale.
Ce sont les D’Tigers du Nigéria qui vont obtenir le gain de cette rencontre à rebondissement qui a changé 16 fois de leader et dans lequel il y a eu 10 égalités.
Les deux équipes vont bien démarrer la partie et c’est le Nigéria qui va prendre la main à la fin du premier quart 24-18 grâce a Alade Aminu très à l’aise à l’intérieur.
Le coach du Cameroun Lazare Adigono lance alors Brice Vounang qui répond dans la raquette adverse et relance les siens qui vont refaire leur retard et mener d’un petit point d’avance à la pause 40-39.
Au troisième quart, c’est au tour des stars NBA des deux équipes de montrer l’étendue de leur talent. Al Farouq Aminu (Nigéria) et MBAH Amoute (Cameroun) vont se rendre coup pour coup. Christian Bayand, auteur de 20 points et 3 rebonds)  va se mettre en exergue au niveau des tirs pour le Cameroun et permettre aux siens de mener de 3 points à l’entame du dernier quart 65 à 62.
Les Camerounais sont bien dans la partie et vont même mener de 10 points décart. C’est ce moment que va choisir Iké Diogu (25 points, 15 rebonds and 2 contres),pour sonner la révolte. D’abord par deux lancers francs ensuite deux tirs à trois points, bien aidé par LAWAL les nigérians vont s’imposer en fin de partie.
Le Nigéria termine donc à la première place du groupe D et va affronter mardi la Centrafrique 4ème du groupe C.
Quant au Cameroun 2ème du groupe D, il rencontrera le Mozambique 3ème du groupe C.

Men
Dmark Power 75-69 Miracle Eagles
Riham Warriors 56-58 Nkumba Marines

Women
UCU Lady Canons 62-22 Gladiators
MUK Sparks 37-77 KCCA Leopards

Nearing the end of the regular season and in the hunt for a playoff berth, Nkumba wanted nothing more than to have Sivachi back in the lineup. The big man scored 17 points and picked 15 rebounds to help Nkumba Marines beat Riham Warriors 58-56 on Sunday.
Marines (4-11) led most of the fourth quarter and with the university side leading 56-53 with 11 seconds to the final buzzer, Warriors in bounded and the ball ended with Andrew Okot (13 points) knocking down a score tying corner 3-pointer with 3 seconds. A time out was called by Nkumba and on return Wilson Otweyo finished off Warriors with a game winning pull up buzzer beater.
Otweyo scored game high 18 points and Wynard Kigobe added 8 points.  Captain, Jude Ochen led Warriors (10-4) who have now dropped two in a row with 13 points.

Still searching for means of survival, Miracle Eagles played their offensively best game of the season in a losing effort. Eagles (1-14) lost to Dmark Power 69-75 on Sunday. Four Eagles’ players scored in double figures led by Abraham Isyagi’s 16 points off the bench. Ian Mago and Frank Karoro added 11 points apiece and Raymond Bukenya had 10 points.
Forward, Isaac Afidra led Power (13-2) with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Reserve center, Daniel Owiti added 15 points and 10 rebounds.
In the women’s division, Claire Lamunu tormented her former side as kcca leopards routed muk sparks 77-66. The forward poured in 26 points to go with 6 rebounds. Center, Muhayimina Namuwaya added 12 points while Flavia Oketcho and Rebecca Akullo contributed 10 points each for the defending champions. Sparks were led by Winnie Anyango with 11 points and Susan Mirembe had 10 points.
UCU Lady Canons maintained a perfect record with a 62-22 win over gladiators. Point guard, Angella Namirimu scored 12 points to lead the way for Lady Canons. Peace Proscovia added 11 points and 21 boards as Lady Canons struggled to score going 21-for-90 from the field. Purity Odhiambo had 8 points and 11 rebounds. Gladiators were led by Joan Muchiruku with 13 points.

THE Harare Basketball Association has begun their preparations for the 2013-2014 season with the renovations of their facilities as they seek to bring back the glory days of the sport in the province. The province held their elections last month that ushered in a new executive led by veteran coach Ngoni Mukukula and the league is expected to take off on the weekend of September 28 at various venues.
HBA spokesperson, Carlos Munda, said most teams are currently playing in community basketball pre-season events as part of their preparations for the season while the association is renovating the facilities.
Some of the areas to be renovated are Dzivarasekwa and Richwood Park courts. "The most exciting thing is that the new executive is gearing up for the league with the renovations of facilities which is a step up for the players and the clubs. As we speak now renovations are happening throughout the province," said Munda.
Munda said this coming season they will have one league for men unlike in the previous season when they had two leagues running as they were trying to create more competition among the clubs.
"We are still having pre-season community basketball every weekend. There is going to be one league with 12 teams, last year we had two leagues and it was a way of bringing competition to the league but now the new executive want to bring back the good old days, so we are going to have one league. For women there is also going to be 12 teams and we are starting a developmental league for junior players.
We are encouraging them to play and then have them in the main league when they are ready, we want them to play in their proper age-groups. It will be more of a B league, they used to play in the same league but there was no competition," said Munda.
Munda said they are expecting to hold a pre-season tournament but are yet to come up with the dates for the competition.

Abidjan — Nigeria's basketball team, D'Tigers on Friday beat Congolese team 93-75 to record its second straight victory in the on-going African Nations Basketball Championship (Afrobasket) in Abidjan.
The D'Tigers had earlier beaten the Malians 74-59 in the opening leg of the tournament. Coach Ayo Bakare told newsmen after the match that he was happy recording two straight wins. "It was a strong game, but I must say that we are happy winning our first two games," he said.
Some supporters of the team who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the match commended the team for their sense of commitment. One of them, Maximus Frank, a Nigerian based in Abidjan said the win against Congo was only possible because the team showed commitment and focus.
"It was a strong game; we saw the Congolese team come out better than they did against Cameroon. "They also played quite a good game, but in all, I commend the Nigerian team for their show of commitment," he said.
Another D'Tigers' supporter, Gift Adorolo, urged the team to make the country proud in the tournament. "We have a good team, we are proud of their performance so far, that is why we have come to support them.
"I want them to come out with stronger force in very game, they have the potential to go far," she said. NAN reports that Congo also in grouped D, lost its first game to Cameroon 74:43 on Wednesday. Nigeria will play Cameroon in the last group match on Sunday.

Yesterday
Group B
Morocco     87-57     Rwanda
Tunisia    100-45   Burkina Faso
Today
Group C
Mozambique     vs     Cape Verde
Angola                  vs     CAR
Group A
Senegal                vs                Algeria
Cote d’Ivoire      vs                Egypt

Rwanda men’s basketball team lost to Morocco 87-57 in their second Group B match at the on-going Fiba Afrobasket Championships played yesterday  at Palaise de Sport Treichvile Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Morocco surged into a 30-10 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. They won the second quarter 20-15 and held a 25-point advantage at the halftime.
Rwanda managed to win the third quarter 20-16, but could do little in the fourth quarter as Morocco took it 21-12.
Abdelhakim Zouita was the top scorer for the North African side with 21 points and Abderrahim Najah added 20. El Masbahi Zakaria delivered 12, while Mustapha Khalfi, Reda Rhalimi and Younes Idrissi added 8 points each.
Rwanda’s Kenny Gasana scored a game high 22 points and Bradley Cameron added 15 points for Moize Mutokambali’s team. Team captain Aristide Mugabe only managed a miserable 6 points as Rwanda failed to repeat their heroics from the first game against Burkina Faso.
It was Rwanda’s third successive defeat against Morocco at the Fiba Afrobasket championships following defeats in 2007 and 2009.
In the second game, defending champions Tunisia routed debutants Burkina Faso 100-45 to put one foot in the second round.
They won all four quarters 28-14; 28-10; 18-13; 26-8 to put the North African side into pole position to reach the knock-out stage.

Ben Romdhane was the top scorer for Tunisia with 23 points, while El Mabrouk chipped in with 16 points.

Tunisia leads Group B standings with four points followed by Rwanda and Morocco, who are tied on three points, while Burkina Faso is bottom of the table with two points.

Action in Group B resumes on Sunday when Rwanda take on Tunisia as Morocco faces Burkina Faso.

Today
Group B
Morocco     vs  Rwanda               2:30pm
Burkina Faso   vs   Tunisia                  5:30pm
Group D
Congo   vs   Nigeria    7:30pm
Mali  vs  Cameroon   10pm
RWANDA take on North African rivals Morocco in their second Group B match of the Fiba Afrobasket Championships on Friday in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Coach Moise Mutokambali’s side goes into today’s fixture with confidence after beating Burkina Faso 80-61 on Wednesday, while Morocco lost their first game to defending champions  Tunisia 56-52.
“It is good to go into the next game on the back of a resounding win. We are determined to try and win the game even as we know it will not be easy against a very good side,” Mutokambali said.
 “Morocco is tough, but I hope we will find a winning formula,” he added.
Lionnel Hakizimana and Aboubaker Barame, who were rested against Burkina Faso, could start in today’s game.
This will be the third time Rwanda meets Morocco in a Fiba Afrobasket Championship.
In 2007, Morocco beat Rwanda 74-68 before doing the same in 2009 with a 85-84 win.
In the opening game of the tournament, Rwanda edged Burkina Faso with an 80-61 win.
Kami Kabange was particularly impressive in the game.
The 6’8 forward scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive end, as the world’s 67th-ranked team downed their FIBA Africa debutant opponents.
Kenneth Gasana and Cameroun Bradley also chipped in with a combined 41 points and 10 rebounds.
In the second group match, Tunisia snatched a 56-52 win against Morocco.
Makram Ben Romdhane, 24, scored 21 points, including the game-winner with just a second left on the clock.
Point guard Nizar Knioua was the only other Tunisian to score in double figures, hitting three of his five attempts from beyond the arc and adding six free throws for 15 points.

Still in Group B, defending champions Tunisia face debutants Burkina Faso in the evening.  In Group D, Congo Brazzaville take on Nigeria, while Mali face Cameroon in the other match.


Contact email: bonnie.mugabe[at]newtimes.co.rw

DON Bosco beat Friends of Basketball (FoB) 47-37 in a Nairobi Basketball Association (NBA) match at Railways Club. Two time leading scorers Joel Atebe managed 18 points and 2 threes while Lewis Wanyoike had 10 for the losers. Baraka Xtreme clobbered Our Lady Queen of Peace 63-41 behind 21 points from Howard Juma who had 11 straight in the third quarter.
Johnny Murumba had 13 points for the losers. Mount Kenya Unversity Thika (MkU) dismissed Lycans 56-26 as on form Derick Juma made 14 points for MKUwhile Joseph Njoroge shot 10.
African Nazarene University (ANU) hit Multi Media University (MMU) 41-39 in a match that saw Cossiga Bayless score 15 as Henry Dego replied with 14. In other matches played over the weekend, women champions Strathmore University blanked Zetech College 40-30.

The basketball League of Lomé Gulf will know its champions after Game 3 of the playoffs. Winners of Games 1, the Etoile Filante in ladies and Model in the male have been the awakening of their opponents in the 2 Games played Sunday.
The last games of the series of these Finals begin at 15h 30 on Saturday.
Final Results
Games 1
Final ladies: Etoile Filante 50-37 Swallows
Men's Final: Model 46-43 Fighters
Games 2
Final ladies: Swallows 48-42 Etoile Filante
Men's Final: Fighters 58-43 Model

With barely six days for the start of the hugely anticipated Sprite Ball Clinic in Accra, enthusiasm among participants have reached fever pitch. Over 100 players, both male and female are expected to participate in the one-week clinic which runs from August 25-31 at Penfield International School at Oyarifa, a suburb of Accra.
Organizers have expressed their delight with the numbers that have expressed interest and continue to troop to their offices to register. It's an experienced of a life-time that players and wannabe's don't want to miss as they will be taken through the rudiment of the game by seasoned coaches from Germany, the United States of America and Ghana.
The expatriate coaches will team up with the highly-rated locals to train the kids within the six-day period. News of the event has gone viral on social media with kids aged between 10-19 who are eligible to participate in the event keen to get their names on board before Thursday's deadline.
Parents have walked to the offices of the organizers, which has been buzzing with lots of activities. Campers who excel are likely to get educational scholarships abroad, an innovation which has sparked huge joy among potential campers.

Group A, Tuesday
Ivory Coast 64-47 Algeria
Egypt 70-72 Senegal
Group B, Wednesday
Rwanda 80-61 Burkina Faso
Group C, Tuesday
Angola 75-50 Cape Verde
Central Africa 66-70 Mozambique
THE Rwandan men’s basketball team got off to a bright start at the 2013 Fiba Afrobasket championships with an 80-61 victory against debutants Burkina Faso in their Group B opening match yesterday at Palaise de Sport Treichvile Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
The first quarter ended with both teams tied 17-17 before the West Africans took the lead 38-32 by half time.
But Moise Mutokambali’s boys recovered to win the third and fourth quarters despite the Burkinabe’s impressive efforts.
Kami Kabangu’s sterling performance ensured the third period ended 54-47 in favour of Rwanda while Kenny Gasana, Pascal Twagirayezu and Hamza Ruhezamihigo all scored crucial points for the winners.
Kabangu was the top scorer for Rwanda with 24 points while Gasana and Cameron netted 22 and 19 points each.
Moussa Quattara and Jean Paul Bayala were Burkina Faso’s top scorers with 10 points each.
The victory will have given Rwanda much needed boost ahead of games against much tougher opponents in their quest for a slot at the 2014 Fiba Basketball World Cup.
The national team takes on Morocco on Friday. Morocco was due to face 2011 champions and favourites Tunisia last night.
Elsewhere, Senegal, featuring an intimidating pair of former NBA stars, scrapped a 72-70 victory against Group A opponents Egypt.
Ibrahima Mbengue won it for Senegal with a second to go.
Hosts Cote d’Ivoire coasted to a 64-47 victory over Algeria in their first game of round-robin play.
Angola took a 25-8 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, routing Cape Verde 75-50 while Mozambique beat Central Africa Republic 70-66 in Group C.
The first of three round-robin games of all the four groups was played before the 16-team knockout tournament begins next Monday.
No team will be eliminated in the group stage but seeding will be decided based on win-loss records throughout the rest of the week.

Today
Group B
Rwanda vs. Burkina Faso 12.30p.m
Tunisia vs. Morocco 8p.m

Group D
Cameroon vs. DR Congo 3p.m
Nigeria vs. Mali 5:30p.m

THE national men’s senior team starts its quest for glory at the 27th edition of the African Basketball Championships against debutants Burkina Faso today at Palaise de Sport Treichvile Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
The tournament serves to pick one of the three slots to the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Madrid, Spain.
The Rwandan team which landed in Abidjan over the weekend trained on Monday and Tuesday night ahead of the tricky opening day tie.
Head coach Moise Mutokambali, who will be guiding Rwanda to a fourth consecutive appearance since their debut in 2007, is eager to help the team finish inside the top ten.
He said yesterday, “Our target is to finish in the top ten. We finished 12th in 2011, but this time round, we want to do much better.”
“Winning the first game will help boost confidence in the squad as we target to finish second in the group. Players are in good mood and we are well prepared for tomorrow’s (today) match,” added Mutokambali.
After Burkina Faso, Rwanda take on Morocco on Friday before facing title holders Tunisia on Saturday.
Skipper Aristide Mugabe is confident they are ready for the tournament.
“We have already gotten in the mood of the competition. Everyone is ready and we want to ensure that we start with a win against Burkina Faso,” added Mugabe.
The 16-team tournament, divided in four groups, got underway on Tuesday in Cote d’Ivoire capital city of Abidjan.
The number of African players plying their trade in Europe and the US has increased significantly over the past few years and many look keen to take their teams as far as possible at the AfroBasket 2013, a qualifying tournament for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Some players feature in some of the most prestigious basketball leagues in the world including the NBA, Spain’s ACB, France’s Ligue National de Basket, the Greek League, China’s CBA, while several others come with US college experience.
Since the FIBA Basketball World Cup increased the numbers of participating teams from 16 to 24 in 2006, Africa gained an extra slot with the top three African teams securing direct qualification to the event.
Intriguingly, the number of potential world cup contenders has doubled with Tunisia, Senegal, Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire among hot favourites.

In Group A, hosts Cote d’Ivoire will take on Egypt, Senegal and Algeria. Angola is in Group C alongside Mozambique, Central African Republic and Cape Verde, while in Group D, Nigeria will square off against Cameroon, Mali and Republic of Congo.
Two years ago, Tunisia stunned Angola in the final of the Afrobasket in Madagascar to claim their first continental title ever.
And this year, head coach Adel Tlatli made public his team’s intention to successfully defend its crown.
Indeed with the likes of Makram Ben Romdhane and Real Madrid’s new recruit Salah Mejri in their ranks, Tunisia will be taken as serious contenders yet again.
Although Nigeria will be competing with a largely different team from the one that came in third two years ago, they kept half of the team that stunned Greece at the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and went on to play at the London Games.
Needless to say the Angolans won lots of admirers over the course of the past two decades, and they are the continent’s most successful team having won 10 African championships.
Four of their players – Joaquim Gomes, Armando Costa, Eduardo Mingas and Carlos Morais— have each won three AfroBasket titles.
Yet pundits can hardly ignore hosts Cote d’Ivoire, particularly since home advantage has always been a key factor in Afro-basketball.
But Cameroon are no pushovers either.
The return of new Sacramento Kings recruit Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, added to the presence of both Gaston Essengue and Christian Bayang and the AfroBasket experience of head coach Lazare Adingono, make Cameroon a genuine title contender.
Still, Senegal, Egypt, Republic of Congo and Cape Verde have all what it takes to ruin away with it.
In recent years, Senegal became famous for having quality big men. But this might be the year when they make the most of quality point guards, including Louis Adams who plays in the American collegiate ranks at South Carolina State University.
Egypt’s head coach Amr Aboul-Kheir said last week that their AfroBasket preparations have been affected by the ongoing political turmoil in the North African nation. But they can count on a talented team that dominated the African youth scene over the past six years.
The Republic of Congo might be the surprise team as they bring an exciting Europe-based crop of players led by Giovan Oniangue and Nobel Bongou-Colo.
Cape Verde will not have Ivan Almeida who pulled out the team, but experienced players like Rodrigo Mascarenhas and Mario Correia are poised to give them some pedigree and make an impact in Group C.

Kampala — The rise of City Oil basketball team has been one of rising and rising higher, going on to become champions every season in every division they participated in since 2011.
Even when their performance pedigree was there for all to see, very few people expected them to shine in the country's top flight league, the Airtel National Basketball league.
As things stand, they are in the top four, a position that guarantees them a playoff berth and a shot at winning the championship in their debut year.
A few weeks ago they registered a morale boosting win against table leaders and title hopefuls D-Mark Power and followed it up with a well-earned win against troubled Miracles. The club management however is aware that even though they surpassed their season expectations, the league has not ended and that anything can happen. Silver Rugambwa, the general manager of the club in an interview said that the club has set a new target which is to play in the playoff seeing that things are working out well as of now.
"We are performing more than we expected, the surprise element is there, and very many people underestimated us. Our target now is to make the play offs and then win the championship next year," Rugambwa ambitiously stated. He notes that they've been making strategic recruitment of players who fit in the club's way of playing and this has helped the club since 2011.
"When we got promoted, we sat down and looked at the players we needed to improve as a team, these players recruited have helped us," he added.

Franck Traore, scout of the NBA Africa, had spent a weekend in Lome in a promotional week of basketball (BPW2013) held from 4 to 10 March 2013 by the Association Leading Youth, Sport and Development (LYSD).
He advocated the establishment of basketball camps to teach the basics of the discipline to young Togolese.
This is now done! Indeed, the Basketball League of Lome Gulf has since August 12 started the first Togolese basketball camp at the municipal stadium of Lome with the support of the Embassy of the United States inTogo.
The initiative has a dual purpose. First, teach and reinforce the fundamentals of 90 young people (45 boys and 45 girls) aged 12 to 18 present at the camp led by former the NBA player of the Dallas Mavericks William Tommy Davis. And secondly educate the youth about societal issues such as respect for others, leadership, teamwork, health, nutrition, STDs and drugs. The event will end on Saturday with the game of the top young.
Freddy Zotchi of just 16 years old, who had been noticed during the BPW 2013 should once again prove to his advantage, waiting to participate in the camp of the best young basketball players in West Africa organized by NBA Africa in December to which he was invited. A step that could allow him to pursue his dream of playing basketball at a high level.
An initiative such as this camp should be sustained and enable Togo to join in the coming years Afrobasket whose 2013 edition starts on August 20 will be played without the Togolese national team. We will find still many of the best players in the selection mid afternoon after the closing of the camp for the final of the Togolese championship pitting Model to Fighters, a game that promises to be explosive.

The Nigerian Basketball federation, NBBF, has disclosed that the men's national team to the Afrobasket 2013 tournament in Cote d'Ivoire would arrive Lagos on Saturday on Virgin Atlantic at 5.30 a.m.
The team is expected to fly out to Abuja on Medview Airline where they would be hosted at a reception by the NBBF at Westpoint Hotel, Wuse on Saturday. The guest of honour at the event would be the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, who would formally bid the team and staff farewell and wish them a successful championship in Cote d' Ivoire.
The team would thereafter depart Abuja for Abidjan on Sunday.
After the training camps in Abuja, Los Angeles and Orlando and the Stankovic tournament tour of China, the selected players and staff to represent Nigeria at the championship would include:
PLAYERS:
1. Abdulwahab Alade Aminu
2. Alfarouk Ajadi Aminu
3. Andy Obinna Ogide
4. Ben Chukwukelo Uzoh
5. Chamberlain Nnameka Oguchi
6. Gani Oladimeji Lawal
7. Ike Somtochukwu Diogu
8. Jamaal Olasewere
9. Olumide Oyedeji
10. Richard Chukwuma Oruche
11. Stanley Gumut
12. Stan Chukwuemeka Okoye
STAFF:
1. Head Coach-Ayodele Bakare
2. Assistants-Sani Ahmed
3. Ayinla Johnson,
4. Ogoh Odaudu and 5. Abdulrahman Mohammed
Doctor-Dr.Suleiman Ohida
Physio-Ekundayo Ogunkunle
Media Officer-Patrick Omorodion

Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF in conjunction with the DStv, sponsor of the Premier Basketball league have fixed September 6-8, 2013 for the Final 4 Play-Offs at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos, following the conclusion of both the Savannah and Atlantic Conferences' Top Four competition.
Towards this end, a joint press briefing to usher in the competition will be held on September 3, 2013 by the NBBF and DStv while a clinic for invited Secondary Schools as well as a demonstration game by selected sides will will hold on September 4, 2013.
A day before the Final 4 Play-Offs dunks off, an All Star Game will hold, shortly after the 3-point shooting and Slam Dunk competitions.
Four teams, Kano Pillars and Mark Mentors from the Savannah Conference and Atlantic Conference duo of Union Bank and Dodan Warriors will vie for the top position after emerging from the Top 4 competitions held in Abuja and Lagos respectively.
The top two teams of the Final 4 will represent the country in the 2013 African Cup Club Championship.

After a series of trial matches and camping which took the Senior Men's National team through Abuja to China and the United States, the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF yesterday named a 12-man squad for the Afrobasket 2013 which dunks off on Monday in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
According to the list released by the team's Head coach, Ayo Bakare, the players are Abdulwahab Alade Aminu, Alfarouk Ajadi Aminu, Andy Obinna Ogide, Ben Chukwukelo Uzoh, Chamberlain Nnameka Oguchi, Gani Oladimeji Lawal, Ike Somtochukwu Diogu, Jamaal Olasewere, Olumide Oyedeji, Richard Chukwuma Oruche, Stanley Gumut and Stan Chukwuemeka Okoye.
The technical staff led by Head coach Bakare include Sani Ahmed, Ayinla Johnson, Ogoh Odaudu and Abdulrahman Mohammed while team doctor is Suleiman Ohida, Physioterapist is Ekundayo Ogunkunle as well as Patrick Omorodion, the Media Officer.
Meanwhile, the team are expected to arrive Lagos today from the United States where they had their final camping and head straight to Abuja where the federation will host them to a reception later this evening, Tijjani Umar, the NBBF president disclosed.
Sports Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi is expected to attend the reception and officially bid the team and officials farewell and a successful championship before they depart Abuja for Abidjan tomorrow.
The championship holds from August 20 to 30 and the play their first match against Mali on August 21, 2013.

Aug. 21
Rwanda vs Burkina Faso
Aug. 23
Rwanda vs Morocco
Aug. 25
Rwanda         vs     Tunisia

RWANDA national men’s senior team departs Friday night for the 27th edition of the African Basketball Championships (Afro-basket) to be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast from August 20 to 31.
The only East African nation to ever compete in the continental event, Rwanda qualified for this year’s championships following their impressive performance at the Zone V tournament held in Tanzania early this year. Rwanda lost in the final to Egypt 82-76.
Rwanda will be making a fourth consecutive appearance since its debut in 2007. Rwanda will  face-off with Egypt on Sunday in a warm-up match.
Moise Mutokambali’s team will start their campaign against debutants Burkina Faso next Wednesday, while Egypt will take on Senegal on Tuesday in their first game.
In the last edition in Madagascar in 2011, Rwanda finished 12th, while their group opponents Morocco, finished sixth and Tunisia beat for winners Angola 67-57 to lift the title and qualify for 2012 London Olympic games.
According to Mutokambali, the target is to finish in the top ten or even better, “We finished 12th in 2011, but this time, we want to do better and finish in top ten.”
However, by press time, Mutokambali preferred to keep his final for the championships a top secret, at least until the last training session
Rwanda will open up their campaign against Burkina Faso on August 21, take on Morocco two days later before taking on title holders Tunisia on August 25.

The tournament also acts as the qualifiers for the world basketball championships set to be held in Spain next year.

Union Bank of Lagos on Monday defeated Dodan Warriors of Lagos 79-63 to emerge the champions of the 2013 DStv Basketball Atlantic Conference Final Four competition.
The two clubs would represent the Conference at the 2013 National Final Four Championships to hold later this year.
At the national championships, the two clubs would meet the Savannah Conference Final Four champions - Kano Pillars - and the runners-up - Mark Mentors of Abuja.
The dates for the National Final Four competition, to take place in Lagos, have yet to be decided by the organisers, the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF).
Lagos Islanders emerged third in the Atlantic Conference while Oluyole Warriors was fourth.
Union Bank's Assistant Coach, Chris Okoh, said after his club emerged the champions that it was a great achievement.
"It is the greatest moment in the club's history. We have had years of setbacks, but this season is just something special. The club's current players are obviously the best you can think of right now.
"We will continue to train hard and remain positive as we prepare for the National Final Four, which is the ultimate," Okoh said.
Coach Peter Ahmedu of Dodan Warriors said that he was proud of the team's second position.
He said that he was looking forward to the National Final Four.
"We played well, but luck was not on our side; we are the best team of the Conference.
"We look forward to the next and crucial event which is the National Final Four competition, where we shall prove our worth," Ahmedu said.
In the other match played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, venue of the competition, Oluyole defeated Lagos Islanders 59-53.
The defeat halted Islanders dream of playing in the seasons National Final Four.
While new comers - Oluyole - rejoiced at picking one game out of the three matches they played, it was tears at the Islanders camp as they needed only one win to beat Dodan to the Conference's second place position.
NAN

History has been made and in an unprecedented fashion, manner, form and style. Sensational LPRC Oilers are the newest triple champions in Liberian sports history.
The conquering basketball squad of Oilers Sports Association won the Liberia Basketball Association (LBA) national league in sensational fashion for the third year in a row.
But Oilers, who were backed by their workforce in an all 'gold and black,' needed a bucket of sweat to beat NPA Pythons by 59 to 51 points in game three of their best out of five series on August 9.
There was an elaborate celebration before the match with managing director T. Nelson Williams, II lifting everyone.
A live music band was on hand to make the party grand as Oilers contained Pythons, who provided some flashes of their deadly abilities.
"We are certain of victory. The Oilers will siphon the snake and there will be no come back for our opponents," Williams told reporters before kick-off.
Few teams like Mighty Barrolle, Pythons, C-Delta and rivals K-Delta have been strengthened with a foreign player or two but the Oil Boys relied on an array of local stars. And Williams was pleased that head coach Paul Houlsen stuck with the local guns during their championship march.
"We have an international coach who has shown commitment in training our players, and we are on top of our game. "We are ready to go international to compete with clubs in Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, etc," Williams noted.
The elegant Peter Bimah, explosive Jethro Bing and the rest of the playing party made life difficult for Pythons on a cozy night.
Comptroller Elizabeth Matu Tubman, marketing manager Charles D. Sherman, II and management information system manager John Momolu Dukuly found time in their busy schedules to cheer Oilers to victory.
It was an electrifying atmosphere with ecstatic supporters singing in a spirited manner as Oilers annihilated Pythons for the third time in a row to emerge as triple champions.
But pundits will eagerly be waiting to see whether Oilers can reproduce their performances on the international stage when they fly the Liberian flag at regional or continental level.
As always, only time will tell.

Nigel Ah-kong and Tony Juliette have been appointed the men’s national team coaches.

Sports Nation contacted Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) chairperson Sheila Ah-kong about this matter and she said that they had actually appointed two coaches but informed that further clarifications should be sought from the coaches’ commission.

According to coaches’ commission chairman Alix Allisop, they had given the coaches an opportunity to apply for the vacant post but sadly no one responded. As a result, the SBF had to decide on two candidates as they are planning to organise a tournament for the two national teams.

However, it seems Ah-kong and Juliette will be installed to take care of the national team on a temporary basis as the vacancy will remain open as the SBF hopes to appoint two permanent coaches.

Ah-kong and Juliette had apparently been asked to prepare the squad for a National Day tournament which was eventually cancelled as the invited teams declined the invitation.
Therefore the federation had to sort out this pressing issue of the men’s squad as they have to start training in preparation for a tournament in December. As a result, they decided to go back to those two local coaches to train the squad.
Nevertheless, when contacted coach Ah-kong told Sports Nation that he had not been informed of this decision though he said he would think about it seriously.
As for Premium Cobras’ coach Tony Juliette, who has previously worked with the team, he told Sports Nation that he had been informed but was to meet the federation to give his decision though he admitted he felt compelled to help as he had hoped other candidates would have come forward but unfortunately no one applied for this vacant post.
The men’s national team will be preparing for a friendly tournament where the federation is planning to invite Botswana, Mauritius, Kenya and Uganda to give our local players some much-needed test matches as they prepare to defend their Indian Ocean Island Games gold medal in Reunion in 2015.

As for the two coaches, namely Ah-Kong and Juliette, if they agree to work with the squad, they will also be permitted to continue with their club sides Mont Fleuri Dawgz and Premium Cobras.

R. J-L.

THE duo of Lionnel Hakizimana and Pascal Karekezi have been declared fit to feature for Rwanda at the Fiba Africa Basketball Championship which will be held in Cote d’Ivoire from August 20-31.
The pair were reported injured during the Fiba Zone V championship, a feat which hampered Espoir’s chances of retaining the title after losing the title to Burundian Urunani side.
But the national basketball team doctor Martin Uwimana has declared them fit.
In an interview with Times Sport, Uwimana said, “Two key players (Lionnel Hakizimana and Pascal Karekezi) who had picked injuries from the recent zone five championship in Burundi with Espoir basketball club are now fit and can travel with the national team for the continental tournament if included  in the squad” 
“For Karekezi, it was a very minor knee-injury and he is now training normally with the team. We were a bit doubtful on Hakizimana but his ankle recovery rhythm is faster and he will be fit in time for the team’s departure,” added Uwimana.
Espoir’s Hakizimana and Karekezi picked ankle and knee-injuries respectively in the zone five championship semi-final tie against Burundi’s new stars which they beat 63-62 to set up a clash against Urunani.
Hoping to maintain unbeaten record, Espoir lost to Urunani 65-56 to finish in second spot.
This was the second time that Urunani had beaten Espoir in a title deciding final match after the 62-61 victory for the Burundian side in the Gisembe memorial tournament final two months ago.
Meanwhile, the national team departs for Abidjan on August 16 and they are expected to face Egypt in a warm-up match prior to the start of the competition.
Rwanda is drawn in Group B alongside defending champions Tunisia, Morocco and debutants Burkina Faso.

The team starts its bid against Burkina Faso on August 21, then Morocco on August 23, and Tunisia on August 25.

US-based Kenneth Gasana arrived in Kigali last evening and is expected to join his teammates in camp ahead the forthcoming Afro-basketball championships scheduled for August 20-31 in the Ivorian capital Abidjan.
According to the head coach Moise Mutokambali, the point guard will be a good addition to the team which is preparing for its fourth appearance in the continental showpiece.
The 29-year-old made his debut for Rwanda during the 2009 FIBA Africa Championships in Libya where he shone with 31 points against Morocco helping Rwanda to the ninth position, the country's best performance ever in the continental championships.
Meanwhile, Mutokambali confirmed that Zone V champions Egypt agreed to play a warm-up game against Rwanda in Abidjan before the main event starts.
"We have secured a friendly game against Egypt before the start of the tournament but the date has yet to be confirmed," the former Rwandan international told Times Sport.
He said the national team will depart for Abidjan on August 16. Rwanda is drawn in Group B alongside defending champions Tunisia, Morocco and debutants Burkina Faso.
The team starts its bid against Burkina Faso on August 21, then Morocco on August 23, and Tunisia on August 25.
Meanwhile, after losing in the final of Zone V Championships against Burundian side Urunani on Saturday in Bujumbura, Espoir players joined the national team camp on Monday.