Afrobasket 2025 (Q): DR Congo bolstered for final qualifying push
DR Congo begin the last window of Afrobasket 2025 qualifying with a strengthened squad. The Leopards have welcomed back several players.
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A much-strengthened DR Congo side will contest the final window of qualifiers for Afrobasket 2025 in Rabat. The Congolese have welcomed back point guard Maxi Shamba after an absence of almost 4 years. The MVP of the 2019 Afrocan is a major asset for DR Congo in their bid to qualify.
Read also: Afrobasket 2025 (Q): full schedule for the final window
The 31-year-old point guard said he was delighted to be back with the team and underlined the group's firm resolve to secure qualification. "I'm happy to be back in the national team, there are new players and plenty of old faces too. The mood is good, everything is going well; we are determined to grab qualification, there are no other options" he said.
Besides Maxi Shamba, DR Congo also see the return of another point guard, Malela Mutuale, who had likewise not featured for the national team for more than a year.
The squad has also been boosted by the arrival of a few newcomers: local players who shone in the latest Congo Cup, such as Franck Nyembo, David Wa Kabenga and Exaucé Ikamba.
One win is enough
The rest of the standout performers from the November 2024 window are all present, namely Christian Lutete, Jordan Sakho and Rolly Fula.
The task does not look too daunting for the DR Congo Leopards. They top Group A after winning all three of their games in the November 2024 window, and the Congolese need only one win to secure their place at the next Afrobasket.
On the road to Afrobasket 2025, DR Congo have the same schedule as in the Dakar window; they start against Mali on Friday 21 February (17h GMT), then face Morocco on Saturday 22 February (17h GMT) and finish against South Sudan on Sunday 23 February (20h GMT).