Cameroon needs to play smart at WOQT- Blackshear

Cameroon point guard Miesha Blackshear believes her country shouldn't worry about its position in the FIBA World Ranking Women as they look to secure a place in the 2016 Olympics via the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT).

The Central Africans are in 39th place - the second lowest, with Nigeria three spots lower in 42nd - in the 12-team WOQT, which runs from 13-19 June in Nantes, France.

There are five places at stake for the Rio Games, and Cameroon who finished runners-up as hosts of AfroBasket Women 2015, will face Argentina and Turkey in the Group Phase.

"I'm not really sure what to make of the opponents. I've learned not to look at any team different, they want to win just as Cameroon does and that's a key thing to remember," Blackshear told FIBA.com.

"They are just other teams that qualified and they are going after the same thing as Cameroon."

Cameroon will need at least one win in the Group Phase to advance to the Quarter-Finals where they would face one of the top-two teams of group A which consists of Cuba, France and New Zealand.

Blackshear, who made her international debut with Cameroon last September, insists there is only one way they can secure their first-ever Olympic appearance.

In order to secure a spot [at Rio 2016] Cameroon needs to continue to play hard and as a team. The stakes are higher now so it's imperative to play smart and play hard. - Blackshear

Her biggest moment came on Day 2 as she blocked Fatoumata Bagayoko's three-point attempt with a second remaining to give Cameroon a 44-43 win over Mali.

The 1.67m playmaker's 4.9 points and 2.1 assists per contest may seem unimpressive but she stood out throughout the tournament in helping Cameroon at both ends of floor.

Blackshear won the hearts of Cameroon fans.

Asked about her future with her national team, she said: "I have not heard from the federation since before I left Cameroon. I talk to [Alain] Zedong - the team's head coach - sometimes but nothing really about whether I'd be back to play.

"At this time, training should be close to starting and no one has contacted me about playing to represent Cameroon so I am to assume that I will not be representing Cameroon again. I do wish them luck."

Last month, Cameroon Basketball Federation announced the team's WOQT preparations would start in April in Milan, Italy.

Blackshear went on saying she would be available to represent Cameroon "under different circumstances."

"People must realise that I left my family, my job and made sacrifices and they made sacrifices for me while I was gone. I love basketball and I loved playing for Cameroon. Things would have to be more organised and fair," she explained.
Blackshear - a USA native who plays for Dallas Diesel - was granted citizenship before AfroBasket Women 2015.

Taking part in the event transformed her view of the world.

"My experience was pretty good for the most part, I loved seeing Africa and the people were nice, I learned a lot about things I didn't know and I even picked up a few French words," she recalled.

Cameroon will open their WOQT campaign against Argentina on 13 June.