Nigeria’s D’Tigers have been pitted against former champions and host, Tunisia, in Group A at the draws for the 2015 FIBA Africa Basketball Championship, which took place at the Carthage Acropolium in Tunis on Saturday.
The D’Tigers, who are now the 6th ranked team in Africa (40th on the FIBA World rankings), will be hoping to roar past the No. 4 ranked Tunisia, who last won the competition in 2011.
Also seeded in the group is little known Uganda, who are making their debut at the continental showpiece and the first of three wild card teams, which will be announced at the end of April by FIBA Africa.
The tournament, which will be held from August 19 to 30 in the Tunisian cities of Nabeul and Tunis, will serve as a qualifying event for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
In Group B, defending champions, Angola, who will be gunning for their 12th title under the tutelage of new but experienced Coach Moncho Lopez, will battle against Mozambique, Morocco and another wild card entry, while Afrobasket 2013 runners up, Egypt, will hope to go a step further than their fairytale run carried them in Abidjan has set up an interesting match against West African foes in Cameroon and Mali, who threw up a surprise to qualify ahead of 2013 bronze medalist, Senegal, alongside Gabon make up group C.
Finally, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, who dramatically ended up fourth at home in 2013, will have Nigerian born Alex Uwora-tutored Cape Verde to battle against debutant, Zimbabwe, and the third wild card pick to compete against in Group D.
It is the third time that Tunisia will get to stage the Afrobasket, having previously hosted it in 1965 and 1987.
Seven teams tabled bids for the three wild cards available to the Tunisian showpiece, amongst which are South Africa, Algeria, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Senegal, Congo and Guinea.
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