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Angola hosts unprecedented competition

The Republic of Angola enters the history of the African basketball in 2007 with the hosting of an unprecedented competition of the Fiba-Africa’s annals. From 15 to 25 August, Angola will be hosting the Afrobasket’2007, wich is the 24th edition of the African Cup of Nations in senior males Basketball.

For the first time the competition will be played in five different cities, with the participation of 16 national teams as, so far, a maximum of 12 have been attending.

This is the third time the country shoulders the responsibility of hosting the continent’s major basketball competition, having the Government created the conditions required to make the event a reference in future.

The construction of four new pavilions in the capital cities and an organisation with world championship standards guarantee, from the onset, a singular place for the Afrobasket'2007 in the history of the sport in the continent.

The competition has a strong social component as its motto addresses a glowing matter of the world and, particularly of Africa, that is the Aids combat.

After a long period of armed conflict that came to an end in 2002, Angola has been recovering in a speedy way its position within the concert of the nations. And in this, sport has been a very active sector. The unprecedented participation in the Germany’2006 world championship of football, marked the peak.

Basketball, whose victorious history started far before peace was achieved, is one of the major Angola’s ambassador. The national team is the one with more Afrobasket titles in the continent, with a large advantage over its opponents.

Since its first appearance in 1980, Angola has so far won eight titles, out of nine competitions, that is, since 1989 it has been successful in this competition, excepting in the edition of 1997. Senegal and Egypt, both with five trophies each, are the closest competitors.

For this edition that will qualify the winner for the Peking Olympic Games, Angola, as the title champion and host country, Senegal, vice champion, Nigeria, bronze medal and Algeria, fourth in last edition, are the Afrobasket top seed.

In the first stage of the tournament, Group A will play in Benguela, while Angola, as top seed, will be facing the teams of Morocco, Cape Verde and Rwanda, according to the draw. In Group B, Senegal, African vice champion, has Mali, Cote d’Ivoire and Egypt just by its side, playing in Lubango (Huíla), whereas Nigéria, group C top seed, will face Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia, in the province of Huambo. On the other hand, Cabinda city will host Algeria as top seed that will play the national teams of Tunisia, South Africa and Cameroon, with Group D.

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