Angola (ANG) - AfroBasket 2013
LUANDA (AfroBasket 2015) - In the lead-up to the AfroBasket 2015, we take a closer look at all 16 participating national teams competing in the championship running from 19-30 August.
Team: Angola
FIBA Ranking Men: 16th
Last participation in the AfroBasket: 2013 (7 wins, 0 defeats; 1st place)
Best result in the history of the AfroBasket: African champions in 1989, 1992, 1993,1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2013
Qualified for AfroBasket 2015 - Qualified as winners of AfroBasket 2013
LUANDA (AfroBasket 2015) - In the lead-up to the AfroBasket 2015, we take a closer look at all 16 participating national teams competing in the championship running from 19-30 August.
Team: Angola
FIBA Ranking Men: 16th
Last participation in the AfroBasket: 2013 (7 wins, 0 defeats; 1st place)
Best result in the history of the AfroBasket: African champions in 1989, 1992, 1993,1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2013
Qualified for AfroBasket 2015 - Qualified as winners of AfroBasket 2013
History/Qualification: Although Angola is a football-loving country, basketball occupies a very special place in the preferences of the Angolans - of all walks of life - who revere their national team players.
Since 1989, they have won 11 of the 13 editions of AfroBasket played. Losing out on the 1997 and 2011 continental titles won by Senegal and Tunisia, respectively, caused bitterness among the Angolans.
Having missed out on direct qualification for the 2012 London Games - their first absence from the Olympics since 1992 - as a result of their second-place accomplished in 2011, AfroBasket 2015 is seen by Angolans as one of the toughest challenges in their basketball history.
They will face Morocco, Mozambique and Senegal in Group B.
The Angolans qualified for the 16-team event taking place in Tunisia next month (19-30 August) as the reigning champions of Africa. They regained the continental crown after beating Egypt in the Final of AfroBasket 2013.
Key Player: Eduardo Mingas and Carlos Morais are pivotal for the Angolas. Both players headlined the AfroBasket 2013 All-Star Five and remain as crucial as ever for their country.
For the 36-year-old Mingas, age is nothing more than a number as he showed at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World in Spain, where he averaged 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds in five games.
As for AfroBasket 2013 MVP Morais, the sky seems to be limit for him.
Judging by his performances in Angola's training camp in Spain, the 29-year-old looks better than ever.
Sorely Missed: Four crucial absentees - Milton Barros, Olimpio Cipriano, Yanick Moreira and Joaquim Gomes.
Barros has undergone a knee surgery. Cipriano is currently dealing with a right hand injury. Moreira has agreed a pre-season contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and will focus on his club career, while Gomes, the MVP of AfroBaskets 2007 and 2009 has not been selected by head coach Moncho Lopez.
Rising Star: A promising star in Angolan basketball ranks, point guard Gildo Dos Santos is yet to reach his potential. This could be his opportunity to shine with the Angolan jersey.
Outlook: The absence of Barros, Moreira, Cipriano and Gomes might influence Angola's campaign in Tunisia as there is no precedent in the country's basketball history of having so many key players missing at a single African championship.
If Angola reach the Semi-Finals, they will do everything in their power to secure direct qualification for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
In just six words: Facing toughest adversity for Olympic dream.
Since 1989, they have won 11 of the 13 editions of AfroBasket played. Losing out on the 1997 and 2011 continental titles won by Senegal and Tunisia, respectively, caused bitterness among the Angolans.
Having missed out on direct qualification for the 2012 London Games - their first absence from the Olympics since 1992 - as a result of their second-place accomplished in 2011, AfroBasket 2015 is seen by Angolans as one of the toughest challenges in their basketball history.
They will face Morocco, Mozambique and Senegal in Group B.
The Angolans qualified for the 16-team event taking place in Tunisia next month (19-30 August) as the reigning champions of Africa. They regained the continental crown after beating Egypt in the Final of AfroBasket 2013.
Key Player: Eduardo Mingas and Carlos Morais are pivotal for the Angolas. Both players headlined the AfroBasket 2013 All-Star Five and remain as crucial as ever for their country.
For the 36-year-old Mingas, age is nothing more than a number as he showed at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World in Spain, where he averaged 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds in five games.
As for AfroBasket 2013 MVP Morais, the sky seems to be limit for him.
Judging by his performances in Angola's training camp in Spain, the 29-year-old looks better than ever.
Sorely Missed: Four crucial absentees - Milton Barros, Olimpio Cipriano, Yanick Moreira and Joaquim Gomes.
Barros has undergone a knee surgery. Cipriano is currently dealing with a right hand injury. Moreira has agreed a pre-season contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and will focus on his club career, while Gomes, the MVP of AfroBaskets 2007 and 2009 has not been selected by head coach Moncho Lopez.
Rising Star: A promising star in Angolan basketball ranks, point guard Gildo Dos Santos is yet to reach his potential. This could be his opportunity to shine with the Angolan jersey.
Outlook: The absence of Barros, Moreira, Cipriano and Gomes might influence Angola's campaign in Tunisia as there is no precedent in the country's basketball history of having so many key players missing at a single African championship.
If Angola reach the Semi-Finals, they will do everything in their power to secure direct qualification for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
In just six words: Facing toughest adversity for Olympic dream.
By: FIBA.com
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