{"id":1540,"date":"2020-10-07T20:49:49","date_gmt":"2020-10-07T20:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jazairhope.org\/?p=1540"},"modified":"2020-10-07T20:49:49","modified_gmt":"2020-10-07T20:49:49","slug":"can-basketball-win-the-hearts-of-algerian-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jazairhope.org\/en\/can-basketball-win-the-hearts-of-algerian-fans\/","title":{"rendered":"Can basketball win the hearts of Algerian fans?"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

ALGIERS (Algeria) – A lot has happened to the Algeria men’s national team over the past two decades, but it’s the upcoming FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers that dominates the basketball headlines in the North African country.<\/p>\n

From finishing second at the FIBA AfroBasket 2001, which granted Algeria a ticket to the FIBA Basketball World Cup the following year, to failing qualification to four editions (2007, 2009, 2011 and 2017) of Africa’s flagship event over the last 20 years, the Algerians insist that it’s time to write a new chapter in their basketball history.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
“IF WE START TO COMPETE REGULARLY AT AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIP AND MAJOR TOURNAMENTS I BELIEVE ALGERIAN FANS WILL START TO FOLLOW US MORE OFTEN.”– Samir Mekdad<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

However, the inevitable question is whether or not basketball can win the hearts of Algerian fans.<\/p>\n

Samir Mekdad, a 33-year-old guard who has been a key member of the team in recent years, believes they are on the right path to change the course of history.<\/p>\n

And surviving a nail-biting FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Pre-Qualifiers two-game series against Cape Verde earlier this year reflects the beginning of Algeria’s new journey, Mekdad admitted in an interview with FIBA.basketball.<\/p>\n

“Our mission, as a team, is to put Algerian basketball right on the international map again. We have the players, the coaching staff, we just need some extra support to make things happen,” Mekdad said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Samir Mekdad in action at FIBA AfroBasket 2015<\/em><\/p>\n

“Those two games against Cape Verde were a real test to our resilience. We are happy that we advanced to the Qualifiers Round, but we also know that there is some work to be done in order to compete against some of Africa’s best teams.”<\/p>\n

The Algerians are drawn against Nigeria, Mali and Rwanda in Group D.<\/p>\n

After months of basketball inactivity in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic, head coach Faid Bilal and part of the team opened a training camp in Algiers a week ago.<\/p>\n

“Our goal is to qualify for the African Championship. It will be a special moment for us, as a country, to return to the African Championship for the first time since 2015,” Mekdad emphasised.<\/p>\n

“We are going to need to give our all, and play for our national pride.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

An absolutely WILD scene as the Algerian national team arrives home after winning #AFCON2019<\/a>
(via @TSAlgerie<\/a>)pic.twitter.com\/kn3KyL5Ck8<\/a><\/p>— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 21, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>