Mozambique (MOZ) - Mozambique v Turkey, 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women, Ankara (Turkey), Group Phase, 30 September 2014
MAPUTO (AfroBasket Women 2015) - In the lead-up to AfroBasket Women 2015, we take a closer look at all 12 participating teams competing in the championship running from 24 September-3 October.
Team: Mozambique
FIBA Ranking Women: 27th
Last participation at AfroBasket Women: 2013 (7 wins, 1 defeat; 2nd place)
Best result in the history of AfroBasket Women: Three second places (1986, 2003 and 2013).
Qualified for AfroBasket Women 2015: Runners-up of AfroBasket Women 2013.
MAPUTO (AfroBasket Women 2015) - In the lead-up to AfroBasket Women 2015, we take a closer look at all 12 participating teams competing in the championship running from 24 September-3 October.
Team: Mozambique
FIBA Ranking Women: 27th
Last participation at AfroBasket Women: 2013 (7 wins, 1 defeat; 2nd place)
Best result in the history of AfroBasket Women: Three second places (1986, 2003 and 2013).
Qualified for AfroBasket Women 2015: Runners-up of AfroBasket Women 2013.
History/Qualification: Mozambique are yet to win an African Championship, but they stand out on the world basketball map as a result of their superb progress over the last four years.
After a fifth-place finish at AfroBasket 2011, they accepted an invitation to participate at the 2012 Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT), following Senegal’s withdrawal and Nigeria's decision to decline taking in the event.
They then went on to finish runners-up at AfroBasket Women 2013 which they hosted in their capital city of Maputo.
By reaching the Final of that tournament in Maputo, Nazir Sale's team secured qualification for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Championship where they lost all their three games against Canada, France and hosts Turkey.
It was Mozambique's first-ever World Championship appearance and the experience has been described in the country's basketball circles as a "historic one" given the fact that no Mozambique team had every qualified to play in a world championship of any sort previously.
As a result of their continuing progress, Mozambique climbed 11 places in the FIBA Women Raking to become Africa's fourth highest ranked team behind Africa reigning champions Angola, Mali and Senegal.
The Southern Africans qualified for this year's AfroBasket Women by virtue of their second-place in Maputo 2013.
Their three second-place finishes were accomplished as hosts of the tournament.
Key Player: In recent years, veteran point guard Deolinda Ngulela has become a respected leader on floor.
And she is expected to remain as relevant for the team, considering the fact that Leia Dongue - an influential member of the team - is likely to sit out the Yaounde showdown through injury.
Rising Star: Vania Sengo headlines a group of newcomers that includes Vilma Covane and newly-crowned MVP of Mozambique's national championship, Ornelia Mutombene.
Sengo has become one of Mozambique's promising stars in recent time.
At last year's FIBA Africa U18 Championship, Sengo - who plays for Torres Novas in Portugal's top flight - came up with 19 points and 14 rebounds to help her country beat Algeria 51-48 to clinch third place.
Outlook: This is a team experiencing a rebuilding process, and playing without Dongue, Anabela Cossa, Catia Halar and Filomena Micato - who skipped this year's event due to undisclosed injuries, might dent their impressive progress.
Although Mozambique may be ready to compete, they will certainly try to capitalise from their month-long training camp held in Turkey.
However, a good start should be crucial for Mozambique who will face hosts Cameroon, Gabon, Mali, South Africa and Uganda in Group A.
Possible outcome: They could reach the Quarter-Finals.
After a fifth-place finish at AfroBasket 2011, they accepted an invitation to participate at the 2012 Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT), following Senegal’s withdrawal and Nigeria's decision to decline taking in the event.
They then went on to finish runners-up at AfroBasket Women 2013 which they hosted in their capital city of Maputo.
By reaching the Final of that tournament in Maputo, Nazir Sale's team secured qualification for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Championship where they lost all their three games against Canada, France and hosts Turkey.
It was Mozambique's first-ever World Championship appearance and the experience has been described in the country's basketball circles as a "historic one" given the fact that no Mozambique team had every qualified to play in a world championship of any sort previously.
As a result of their continuing progress, Mozambique climbed 11 places in the FIBA Women Raking to become Africa's fourth highest ranked team behind Africa reigning champions Angola, Mali and Senegal.
The Southern Africans qualified for this year's AfroBasket Women by virtue of their second-place in Maputo 2013.
Their three second-place finishes were accomplished as hosts of the tournament.
Key Player: In recent years, veteran point guard Deolinda Ngulela has become a respected leader on floor.
And she is expected to remain as relevant for the team, considering the fact that Leia Dongue - an influential member of the team - is likely to sit out the Yaounde showdown through injury.
Rising Star: Vania Sengo headlines a group of newcomers that includes Vilma Covane and newly-crowned MVP of Mozambique's national championship, Ornelia Mutombene.
Sengo has become one of Mozambique's promising stars in recent time.
At last year's FIBA Africa U18 Championship, Sengo - who plays for Torres Novas in Portugal's top flight - came up with 19 points and 14 rebounds to help her country beat Algeria 51-48 to clinch third place.
Outlook: This is a team experiencing a rebuilding process, and playing without Dongue, Anabela Cossa, Catia Halar and Filomena Micato - who skipped this year's event due to undisclosed injuries, might dent their impressive progress.
Although Mozambique may be ready to compete, they will certainly try to capitalise from their month-long training camp held in Turkey.
However, a good start should be crucial for Mozambique who will face hosts Cameroon, Gabon, Mali, South Africa and Uganda in Group A.
Possible outcome: They could reach the Quarter-Finals.
By: FIBA.com
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