CONAKRY (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - It has been 32 years since Guinea last competed in FIBA AfroBasket and as the country looks forward to making a much-awaited return to the continent's flagship event later this summer, it wants to do so in style.

After earning a wild card in April along with Rwanda, the Guineans have been restless in trying to prepare themselves and the excitement can be felt across the country.

Guinea Basketball Federation President Sakoba Keita said to FIBA.basketball : "It is a great pleasure for us to return to the continental stage after more than 30 years of absence. Guinea was known as one of the continental powerhouses so making it again to the FIBA AfroBasket can be considered as a rebirth of the game in our country."

By way of playing at FIBA AfroBasket 2017, Guinea are set to also compete in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers that will tip off in November and be played on a home and away basis. 

"Playing on home court is a real opportunity to reconnect with our fans. This could also have a positive impact on the country's economic development and increase the Government's support." - Keita

Keita pointed out that getting this opportunity - that is made possible through the implementation of FIBA's New Competition System - is important for everyone in order to come together and think about the possibilities that Guinea has to make it back to the top where they belong. 

Guinea's best-ever placing at the FIBA AfroBasket was when they finished fourth in Cairo, Egypt in 1962. In order to get back to that level, they will need their best players, even if it means having to cross oceans to return home. 

"We all worked as a team to gather as much as possible the talented players of Guinean origin plying their trade all over the world," Keita said. "We explained to them the importance of joining our project in order to build a competitive team on the eve of the new era of global basketball."

This has given Keita and his fellow country men the optimism to believe they can build on this participation and give basketball a new lease of life in Guinea.

"Today we have achieved a lot but there is still room for improvement and participating in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers is a great opportunity for us to move forward and hopefully increase the funding opportunities of the game. Our sponsors will see that basketball is now a viable product that can bring numbers in terms of marketing," he said.

The windows for the World Cup qualifiers will be November 20-28; February 19-27, June 25-July 3, September 10-18 and November 26-December 4 2018; and February 20-28, 2019.

And Guinea, who have been drawn in Group A along with South Africa, Cameroon and Tunisia will have the opportunity to play in front of their fans.

"Playing on (our) home court is a real opportunity to reconnect with our fans. This could also have a positive impact on the country's economic development and increase the Government's support," Keita pointed out.

With young players like Mamadi Diakite plying their trade in the USA, there is hope that the future is bright for Guinean basketball and under the new system, fans are guaranteed to be a part of this journey. 

FIBA