TRIPOLI (FIBA Africa Championship) - With two days to the opening games of the 25th FIBA Africa Championship for men tagged ‘Libya 2009 Afrobasket’ all sixteen teams/ countries are on ground getting set for the jump-ball in Tripoli and Benghazi.
2007 second runner-up Cape Verde coached by Nigeria-born Alex Nwora will open the floor at the Africa Union Hall in Tripoli against Tunisia in a group-D opener at 11.00 hours local time to signal the beginning of hostilities of the 2009 edition of the biggest basketball event on the Africa continent.
Cape Verde who defeated Nigeria at the quarter-finals of the last edition in Angola is beaming with confidence to repeat or surpass its third place finishing of 2007.
FIBA Africa Zone-6 qualifier, Mozambique will battle five-time champion, Egypt in a group-B game in Benghazi also at 11.00 hours as matches will be played simultaneously in the two cities.
These group-B opening is important to both countries giving the fact that the group also comprise of the defending champion, Angola, as a win for either side will boost it chances of having a good run in the first round.
The games are on the bill at 13.00 hours in Tripoli and Benghazi.
In Tripoli five-time champion, Senegal will want to justify the huge confidence repose in it by the continental ruling body, FIBA Africa when it was granted one of the two wild-card to the championship after failing to qualify from Zone-2 when it confront Congo Brazzaville in a group-C game inside the Africa Union hall.
Backed with the presence of their experience player, Regal FC Barcelona centre Boniface Ndong, the Senegalese are favoured to win the game but since basketball is not mathematics anything is possible as the Congolese could spring some surprises.
And in Benghazi, perennial champion, Angola will open its title defence when it takes to the floor against Africa Zone-2 representative, Mali.
Angola who had one of the best pre-championship preparations will attempt to use Mali to justify its big preparation for the championship.
The Africa Union Hall in Tripoli will come alive at 16.00 hours when 2007 runner-up, Cameroon coached by France-based home-boy, Samuel Nono take on Central Africa Republic in a group-C game, while Nigeria will take on fellow Africa Zone-3 neighbour, Cote d’Ivoire in group-A opening game in Benghazi.
The fixture is a repeat of both sides’ qualifiers last year in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire where both countries ended the ties at 1-1 with Nigeria running away as the zone championship due to its superior point’s advantage.
Morocco and Rwanda will entertain the crowd in Tripoli in the centre last game of Day-1 when both side clash in a group-D pairing at inside the Africa Union Hall at 21.00 hours.
Host Libya will round-off the day’s proceeding in Benghazi after an glamorous opening ceremony billed to commence at 18.30 hours.
The Libyan, will take to the floor in a group-A game against South Africa at 21.00 hour to begin its quest for a place in the second round while the South African are staging a comeback to Africa biggest basketball show piece after six years.
2007 second runner-up Cape Verde coached by Nigeria-born Alex Nwora will open the floor at the Africa Union Hall in Tripoli against Tunisia in a group-D opener at 11.00 hours local time to signal the beginning of hostilities of the 2009 edition of the biggest basketball event on the Africa continent.
Cape Verde who defeated Nigeria at the quarter-finals of the last edition in Angola is beaming with confidence to repeat or surpass its third place finishing of 2007.
FIBA Africa Zone-6 qualifier, Mozambique will battle five-time champion, Egypt in a group-B game in Benghazi also at 11.00 hours as matches will be played simultaneously in the two cities.
These group-B opening is important to both countries giving the fact that the group also comprise of the defending champion, Angola, as a win for either side will boost it chances of having a good run in the first round.
The games are on the bill at 13.00 hours in Tripoli and Benghazi.
In Tripoli five-time champion, Senegal will want to justify the huge confidence repose in it by the continental ruling body, FIBA Africa when it was granted one of the two wild-card to the championship after failing to qualify from Zone-2 when it confront Congo Brazzaville in a group-C game inside the Africa Union hall.
Backed with the presence of their experience player, Regal FC Barcelona centre Boniface Ndong, the Senegalese are favoured to win the game but since basketball is not mathematics anything is possible as the Congolese could spring some surprises.
And in Benghazi, perennial champion, Angola will open its title defence when it takes to the floor against Africa Zone-2 representative, Mali.
Angola who had one of the best pre-championship preparations will attempt to use Mali to justify its big preparation for the championship.
The Africa Union Hall in Tripoli will come alive at 16.00 hours when 2007 runner-up, Cameroon coached by France-based home-boy, Samuel Nono take on Central Africa Republic in a group-C game, while Nigeria will take on fellow Africa Zone-3 neighbour, Cote d’Ivoire in group-A opening game in Benghazi.
The fixture is a repeat of both sides’ qualifiers last year in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire where both countries ended the ties at 1-1 with Nigeria running away as the zone championship due to its superior point’s advantage.
Morocco and Rwanda will entertain the crowd in Tripoli in the centre last game of Day-1 when both side clash in a group-D pairing at inside the Africa Union Hall at 21.00 hours.
Host Libya will round-off the day’s proceeding in Benghazi after an glamorous opening ceremony billed to commence at 18.30 hours.
The Libyan, will take to the floor in a group-A game against South Africa at 21.00 hour to begin its quest for a place in the second round while the South African are staging a comeback to Africa biggest basketball show piece after six years.
