The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup is upon us and China is ready to welcome the world into its vast landscape to enjoy the great sport of basketball. A select few groups of men representing 32 nations will converge in multiple world class facilities in the coming days to battle for the world title; the competition runs from August 31 to September 15.
For the first time ever, Africa has five representatives in the tournament with reigning continental champions Tunisia leading the way. Angola, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Senegal join in on the attempt to get Africa’s maiden appearance at the quarterfinal stage.
In Group A, Ivory Coast had the best qualifying prospects immediately after the World Cup draw but those optimistic thoughts have given way to negative ones. For starters, the West African nation had a brilliant run in the final phase of the qualifiers winning three straight games to book its ticket to China and had momentum on its side. However, the winning run has been halted with the Ivorian team dropping friendly games in the lead up to its Group A opener against the host nation.
Ivory Coast lost 83-94 to Philippines, 62-79 to Spain and a shocking 69-98 loss to Iowa State University Men’s Basketball Team. Further damaging Ivory Coast’s chances of progression, the team went on strike earlier this month due to unpaid bonuses. In a group with China, Venezuela and Poland, the Ivorians were in good stead to make a run for the Round of 16 but that looks very unlikely.
Due to the presence of experienced and talented players plying their trades in the world’s best league-NBA-Nigeria on paper has the best chance of making it beyond the group stage. Minnesota Timberwolves Josh Okogie, Orlando Magic’s Al-Farouq Aminu, San Antonio Spurs Chimedzie Metu and former New York Knicks Forward Ike Diogu are on the roster of D’Tigers.
However, Nigeria is in Group B alongside powerhouses Argentina and Russia; South Korea rounds up the nations in the group. Beating Russia in the opening game tomorrow in Wuhan would go a long way in determining which country progresses alongside Argentina. Per results from friendly games played including wins over Canada, Poland and Montenegro, Nigeria could surprise many by qualifying to the second round.
Angola is one of the oldest teams in the tournament and despite doing well to maintain their dominance in the latter parts of the 20th Century and early days of the 21st Century, Angola’s foundational pieces of Carlos Morais, Eduardo Mingas and Olimpio Cipriano have aged. Angola has since lost grip on dominating the continent as Nigeria and Tunisia have stepped up winning the last two AfroBasket Championships.
At their very best, Angola placed ninth in 2006 with three wins from six games and going up against Philippines, Italy and Serbia is a tough climb for the side. Italy’s wing combination of Marco Belinelli and Danilo Gallinari is a sharpshooting duo to be taken serious. Serbia placed second at the 2014 World Cup and second at the 2016 Olympics and is a top contender to win gold with NBA sensation Nikola Jokic leading the way.
Senegal’s best hopes went out of the window immediately NBA players Gorgui Dieng of Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics 7 foot 6 inch sensation Tacko Fall decided not to compete in the World Cup. Though similar actions have been taken by their NBA peers in Group H countries like Canada and Australia, the drop off in quality isn’t the same compared to the Teranga Lions. Australia missed out on Ben Simmons, Jonah Bolden and Dante Exum but has Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Matthew Delavedova and Andrew Bogut available.
Canada missed out on Andrew Wiggins, Jamal Murray, Tristan Thompson and bevy of other top players but have Cory Joseph and Birch available. Lithuania has Jonas Valanciunas and Domantas Sabonis surrounded by solid role players like Mindaugas Kuzminskas to join Australia in the next round. Senegal lost 63-71 to Jordan and 54-111 to Italy in friendly games.
That should leave Tunisia as the continent’s best bet to play beyond the group stages as the North African nation is in Group C which has one clear winner and an open qualification spot. Spain is the clear leader with Tunisia set to battle Iran and Puerto Rico.
As reigning African champions with Dallas Mavericks Center Salah Mejri in tow, Tunisia must lean on experienced trainer Mario Palma who has been to the World Cup twice to beat out an Iran side that beat Jordan 82-70 in a friendly game. Iran beat Denmark, Slovakia and Portugal en route to winning the Oliveira de Azeméis International Tournament which makes it tough to pick an African side for a deep run in China.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
