YAOUNDE (FIBA AfroBasket 2017) - For a man who began playing organised basketball four years ago, 21-year-old Mohaman Aziz Nkene looks good enough to put on the Cameroon national team jersey anytime soon.

With Gaston Essengue putting an end to a national team career that spanned over a decade, a player like Nkene might have his chance.

"The ambition of any player shortlisted for the national team is to fight to put his country on the top step of the podium. I think that if such opportunity is offered to me, I'll battle thoroughly." - Nkene

Playing for Cameroon side BEAC Basketball in last month's 11-team FIBA Africa Champions Cup (ACC), the 2.06m centre made his introduction to international basketball by dominating the paint with team-highs of 9.3 rebounds and 1 block per game for a 13.9 efficiency rate.

In the process, BEAC Basketball exceeded expectations, finishing in 7th-Place while local champions Nzui-Manto returned home empty-handed in five games.

Yet, Nkene insists he is still under the learning process.

"To be frank, it is not easy for a local-based player to make it to the national team, but anything can be possible with hard work," he told FIBA.com when discussing his national team ambitions.

"Cameroon [national team] usually select local players in the preliminary rosters, but I think this is a great opportunity to work for a place on the final roster."

A regular participant at Africa's flagship event since 2007, Cameroon will be taking on FIBA Africa Zone 4 teams to earn a place in this year’s FIBA AfroBasket in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

If the Central Africans succeed in the qualifier, Nkene promises to fight tooth and nail to deserve a place in the final roster.

"It is all about winning," he said when asked about his ambitions if selected to represent Cameroon in the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 or the qualifiers. "The ambition of any player shortlisted for the national team is to fight to put his country on the top step of the podium. I think that if such opportunity is offered to me, I'll battle thoroughly."

Nkene's rebounding couldn't go unnoticed either in Cairo.

"It's a bit difficult to talk about my own qualities as a player, but I could say that I'm a good rebounder. I still have a lot of things to learn compared to players of my age," he assessed.

With inspiring figures like Cameroon international Luc Mbah a Moute making waves in the NBA, it really comes as no surprise that Nkene dreams of a stardom himself.

"Luc Mbah a Moute is the superstar in our country. He's been Cameroon's torch-bearer in the NBA since well before the arrival of [Joel] Embiid and [Pascal] Siakam.

"For us young players, Mbah a Moute is the reference of excellence. His playing career gives us a lot of hope and motivation. If we compete, it is because we want to win and I am convinced that this will happen very soon as we have the means to win a continental title."

FIBA