MIES (Switzerland) - It is now time to meet the six teams in this FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 Spain with the dream of becoming Olympic champions this summer.

Here is the number 34 team in the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike, the five-time Olympics participants Angola. The country ruled over Africa, winning a total of 11 FIBA AfroBasket titles, but Angola are aiming to end a 16-year Olympic drought.

How they qualified

Angola were playing at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 for the ninth appearance in the last 10 FIBA flagship events and their sixth in a row. The Africans were drawn into Group A in Manila and were going through a generation transition - with most of the long-time veterans being replaced by youngsters.

The inexperience was too much in Angola's opening game, losing 81-67 against Italy. Angola showed their talent in their second contest though, knocking off hosts Philippines 80-70 before falling 75-67 to Dominican Republic in their final game in the group.

Angola moved onto the 17-32 Classification and suffered an 83-76 loss to China to start Group M. African pride as well as possibly a direct spot in the Olympics was on the line in the final game against FIBA World Cup debutants South Sudan. Angola could not keep up with South Sudan and lost 101-78 to take third place in the classification group.

Angola ended up finishing 26th at the World Cup to qualify for the OQTs as one of the best 16 remaining teams that did not advance directly to the Summer Olympics.

Record at the Olympics

Justino Victoriano versus Karl Malone at the 1996 Olympics

Appearances: 5 -1992 (10th); 1996 (11th); 2000 (12th); 2004 (12th); 2008 (12th)
Medals: 0

Recent OQT history*

* Since 2008

Angola have participated in three OQTs thus far. In 2012, they went 1-1 in the group stage and then lost 80-65 to Russia in the Quarter-Finals in Venezuela.

Four years later, Angola were in the OQT in Belgrade and dropped both games in Group A - 91-81 to Puerto Rico and 83-60 versus Serbia.

Angola were in Kaunas for the 2020 OQTs and lost both games to European countries in the group phase - 83-64 to Poland and 118-68 against Slovenia.

Last Olympics appearance

Angola have played at five Olympics and those five appearances came consecutively from 1992 to 2008, when the western African country dominated basketball on the continent - winning 10 of the 11 FIBA AfroBaskets from 1989 to 2009. But Angola have not been back to the Olympics since 2008. And they have failed to get a win in the last three Olympics, having lost their last 17 games since beating Korea at the end of the Atlanta 1996 Games.

At China 2008, Angola opened their Group B campaign with a 29-point loss to Germany and then lost by 21 to United States. The Africans could not beat the hosts, losing 85-68 to China and dropped to 0-4 with a 41-point defeat against Greece. Angola actually led 23-15 after 10 minutes in their final game against Spain but ended up losing 98-50.

Angola finished 12th of 12 teams - the third straight Olympics where the Africans took last place. 

The OQT Group Phase

Bruno Fernando's presence in the paint will play a key role in Angola's chances in Spain

Angola will start their OQT Spain with likely the most difficult game as they start Group A against hosts Spain. Angola's next game against Lebanon would presumably be a must-win if they want advance from the group stage.

The two top teams from both Groups A and B advance to the Semi-Finals and Angola would have to take on one of Finland, Poland or Bahamas. The Africans would need one more win in the Final to then make their much-anticipated return to the Olympics.

Angola OQT games

vs Spain (July 3)
vs Lebanon (July 4)

Players to watch

Point guard Childe Dundao is Angola's floor general and controls the tempo of the team. What Dundao lacks in height he more than makes up in leadership and determination - and that at both ends of the floor.

And Dundao has a good number of weapons to work with - especially around the basket. Silvio De Sousa shined at the 2023 FIBA World Cup - his first appearance for his country since FIBA AfroBasket 2017. But the power forward also was able to show his leadership despite being just 25 years old.

Silvio De Sousa

Bruno Fernando, the first Angolan to play in the NBA, is a force to reckon with in the paint and Jilson Bango is another emerging star at power forward. Gerson Domingos meanwhile is another point guard more than capable of also playing alongside Dundao - though neither of them have much size.

Selton Miguel at the 2020 OQT

Gerson Goncalves is another guard who can hurt opposing defenses with his scoring while Eduardo Francisco will only be 20 years old and already be playing at his second major competition, and Selton Miguel is 23 years old and played in the 2020 OQT.

Qualified Team Focus series

During coming weeks and months, we will continue to check out all teams ready to step out as part of our Qualified Team Focus series. You can already take a look at Spain, Poland, Finland, Bahamas and Lebanon here.

FIBA