FIBA: Lonlack calls on team spirit ahead of Olympics play offs

Cameroon may not rank among the favourites in the 2016 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT), but Ramses Lonlack has insisted they are capable of clinching one of the five places on offer for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Cameroon, the hosts of AfroBasket Women 2015, finished runner-ups after an 81-66 defeat to Senegal in the final. As a result, they missed out on the only automatic place on offer for African teams for the Olympics.

However, the ‘Indomitable Lionesses’ secured a place in the 12-team WOQT which will run from 13-19 June in Spain or France, depending on the outcome of the host bidding process.

Although Cameroon climbed eight places in the FIBA Women Ranking in the aftermath of the African championship, the Central Africans (39th) remain among the lowest ranked teams in the WOQT ahead of Nigeria (42nd).

The 12 teams that qualified for the WOQT through the women’s continental championships include Argentina, Belarus, China, Cuba, France, Korea, New Zealand, Nigeria, Spain, Turkey and Venezuela.

However, Lonlack believes their chances to advance to the Rio Games shouldn’t be judged by rankings.

“We came short [at AfroBasket Women 2015], but we still have a chance to play in next year’s Olympics,” the 26-year-old told FIBA.com.

"Qualifying to the [Olympic] Games will depend on our team spirit. The expectations are not different, we still want to make our dream become true,” Lonlack defended.

After the AfroBasket Women 2015, Cameroon players and the country basketball federation faced a bonus dispute, raising doubts about the players availability for the WOQT, but Lonlack says, they will be ready for the tournament.