FIBA U18 Men's AfroBasket Team Preview: Angola

FIBA U18 Men's AfroBasket Team Preview: Angola

The Angola U18 Men's team is set to compete in the FIBA U18 AfroBasket Tournament in Pretoria, South Africa, from 2nd to 14th September 2024. This is an important tournament as the finalists will book their tickets to the 2025 FIBA U19 Men's World Cup, which will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland. Angola secured their place in the competition as one of the four teams to get automatic qualification for their recent showing, along with South Africa, the host nation.

Key Players & Expectations

Will Angola lift their fifth FIBA U18 AfroBasket trophy in Pretoria, South Africa?

This is the wish of the coach and the players. The team is filled with several young players with extensive senior and professional experience. Most players play in the first division or in local and international academies. Two players from the NBA Academy in Senegal have provided much-needed reinforcements and will look to play an important role in the team's success.

The two players are forward Manuel Camboma and point guard Aginaldo Neto. Neto, who played in the tournament in 2022 in Antananarivo, Madagascar, will be expected to lead this team. Angola's squad will rely heavily on his [Neto] performance  as he joins them as a BAL champion with Petro de Luanda this season. Leading this team is a remarkable milestone in the point guard's already illustrious career.

This Angolan side has been in camp for some weeks and has undergone intense sessions to prepare for the tournament. Despite the preparation, they know that nothing, other than actual game experience, can fully prepare you for such a competition. The team recognise that they are in a very competitive pool with the defending champions, Egypt, and the two zonal champions, Uganda and Nigeria. However, the team fancies their chances and has their eyes set on the trophy.

Historical Context

Angola has always done well in this competition. They have been named champion on four occasions since its inception. The most recent championship came in 2016 in Kigali, where they defeated Egypt 86-82 in the finals. They will be fancying their chances in this competition, especially with the stakes so high. Angola has a rich history in African competitions, and they want to bring that legacy and pedigree to Pretoria.

Their ability to compete at a high level will be something that will carry them through in this competition as they have many players who are already playing in the top division in Angola, Unitel Basket. Many players have played alongside legends like Carlos Morais and Jone Pedro and learned the winning ways. The upcoming matches in Pretoria will be a true test for Angola and their ambitions. Fans and analysts alike will be eagerly watching to see if they can repeat the glories of 2016 and consequently book their spot in Lousanne next year.

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[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of FIBA]