NAIROBI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- FIBA Africa is confident that the continental women basketball representatives at the Tokyo Olympics, Mozambique and Nigeria, will make an impact.
After the conclusion of the Africa qualifiers held in Maputo, Mozambique on Thursday, FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave, who was on transit in Nairobi en route to Abidjan, said the continent has shown great potential and will be a force to reckon with in Tokyo.
"The level of competition is improving by the day," said Manave, "Teams from Europe and America are strong, but Africa is slowly clawing back into space and will be a worthy opponent."
Kenya failed to make the cut in the qualifiers as bigwigs Mali and Senegal fall behind leaving hosts Mozambique and Nigeria grabbing the two slots reserved for the continent.
"Kenya have shown their potential in basketball beating giants Egypt in Africa Zone Five. The men's team has also done well in the FIBA AfroCan tournament in Bamako, Mali. This is good signs and will support, they will be up there with the rest of the world," Manave added.
With Africa's two representatives in the women's basketball already confirmed, next will be the Americas and Asia-Oceania regions, which will be represented by four teams each.
The draw for the upcoming Elite 16 of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) will take place in Abidjan on Friday.
