Afrobasket ball
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: Cameroon
FIBA Ranking Women: 47th
Last participation in the AfroBasket Women: 2013 (5 wins, 3 defeats; 4th place)
Best result in the history of the AfroBasket Women: 3rd place in 1983 & 1984.
Qualified for AfroBasket Women 2015 - Hosts of the tournament.
History/Qualification: It will be Cameroon's fourth consecutive appearance in the AfroBasket Women. And, over the course of the past few years, the country's women's basketball has grown steadily.
A couple of years ago, they almost caused a major upset in the Semi-Final against hosts Mozambique as they put themselves in a privileged position to qualify for the 2014 FIBA Women's World Championship.
They led for all but three minutes, keeping the sell-out Maxaquene Arena crowd in Maputo in absolute silence.
However, Mozambique's Leia Dongue wasn't prepared to disappoint her country men and women and emerged from out of nowhere with 2:30 minutes remaining, hitting a lay-up that changed the course of the game to spoil Cameroon's dream of qualifying for their first-ever major world competition.
Eventually Mozambique prevailed 61-57.
While the two finalists - Angola and Mozambique - went on to qualify for the Women's World Championship held in Turkey, Cameroon finished fourth as Senegal sealed a 56-53 triumph in the Third-Place Game thanks to a Mame Marie Sy's game-winning buzzer-beating three-pointer.
Key Player: Although Ramses Lonlack's energetic style of play could be crucial at both ends of the court, Alain Zedong's team effort as well their chemistry on the floor should be their main asset.
Priscilla Mbiandja, team captain Amina Njonkou and Nicole Jamen count with at least two AfroBasket Women appearances each, and they epitomise the potential of Cameroon's new generation of players.
Rising Star: Former Texas A&M standout Achiri Ade has just finished her college career with averages of 6.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
Although the USA-born player is yet to make her debut for Cameroon, she could provide coach Zedong’s team a much-needed rebounding support.
Outlook: There is only one goal in mind for coach Zedong's team: Win the it all, and secure direct qualification for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
And they have plenty of reasons to remain confident, especially as they kept half of the team that finished fourth in Maputo 2013.
As well as a talented group of players, half of the team played USA college basketball.
The hosts of AfroBasket Women 2015 are legitimate title contenders and will be put to the test when they take on Group A opponents Mozambique, South Africa, Gabon, debutants Uganda and Mali.
Possible outcome: They could reach the Semi-Finals, but that won't come without a fight.
