Tunisia Seeking to End Six-Year FIBA U18 AfroBasket Drought
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Loading... - Isis Jamal
- 16 Jul 2024
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Tunisia is actively preparing to make a strong comeback in the FIBA U18 AfroBasket tournament after missing out on the last two editions. The North African team, which finished seventh in the 11-team competition in 2018 in Bamako, held a training camp in late June to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming challenges.
A group of 16 players, some of whom were part of the team that finished fourth at last year's U16 AfroBasket on home soil, participated in the training camp. This camp aimed to prepare them for the 2024 FIBA Africa Qualifiers for Zone 1 countries, which Tunisia hosted from July 11 to 14.
Tunisia faces stiff competition from neighboring rivals Algeria and Morocco to qualify for the 2024 FIBA U18 AfroBasket Finals, slated for August in South Africa. Determined to secure their spot, the Tunisian team has been putting in extra effort to ensure their readiness.
Hichem Ezzahi, the new coach of the U18 team, explained the importance of the training camps. "This is the third training camp of the year for these youngsters. These three training camps have given everyone a chance to express themselves within the existing structure," says Ezzahi.
Among the notable players are Idriss Toumi, who averaged 5 points and 3.6 rebounds during the U16 tournament last year, Elyas Zaabar with 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds, and Hamza Masrouki, who averaged 11.6 points and 5 rebounds.
Working alongside national men's coach Mehdi Mery, Ezzahi aims to introduce a faster style of play to the Tunisian team. "I took over the group rather recently. With the help of coach Mery, we're trying to instill a new way of playing in the youth teams," he adds. This change is a shift from their usual composed game to a more dynamic approach, which they hope to showcase during the Zone 1 Qualifiers and future competitions.
Playing in front of their home crowd adds pressure but also motivation for the team. "It is inevitable! We'll be playing in front of our home crowd. And it'll be a first for me at this level. We'll need to perform well," says Ezzahi.
Ezzahi believes that this squad is poised to follow in the footsteps of its successful predecessors. "We've noticed that the youth teams have taken a back seat to the seniors. But that's something that's going to change. It has to if we want to have a senior team that is competitive again," he concludes.
Tunisia's determination to end their six-year drought in the FIBA U18 AfroBasket is evident in their rigorous preparations and new strategic approach. With a blend of experienced players and fresh coaching ideas, the team aims to make a triumphant return and set the stage for future successes. The upcoming qualifiers will be a crucial test for this ambitious squad as they seek to re-establish themselves on the continental stage.
