Rwanda men’s national basketball team coach, Moise Mutokambali, has named a provisional 17-player squad to start early preparations for the First Round of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers to be held in Bamako.

The Malian capital will host Group B that consists of Mali, Nigeria, Uganda and Rwanda while Group D has Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, the Central African Republic and Mozambique, who will face-off in Maputo.

The two First Round tournaments are set to run from February 23-25.

Mutokambali’s team, comprising of only home-based players, started training on Wednesday evening at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, training two days in a week until after the Heroes’ Day basketball tournament set for Jan.27-Feb.1, when they enter residential camp along with the professional players.

"The aim for early preparations with the local based players is for them to have ample time to elevate their competition levels before they are joined by the professional players,” Mutokambali said.

Under FIBA’s new competition System, Africa will for the first time qualify five teams to the World Cup that will be hosted by China from August 31 –September15, 2019.

Provisional squad:

Walter Nkurunziza (REG), Aristide Mugabe (Patriots), Kubwimana Kazingufu Ali (REG) Sagamba Sedar (Patriots),Steven Hagumintwari (Patriots),Pascal Niyonkuru (Espoir), Bienvenue Niyonsaba (IPRC-South), Olivier Shyaka (REG), Fiston Irutingabo (IPRC-Kigali), Dieudonné Ndizeye (Patriots), Deo Amani (UGB), Bruno Nyamwasa (IPRC-Kigali), Victor Mutabaruka (IPRC-Kigali), Ali Ruzigande  (APR), Jean Paul Ndoli  (IPRC-Kigali), Kaje Elie (REG)  and  Kami Kabange (REG)

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