Gabon booked their place for the 16-team event at the Group G qualifiers held at home in their capital of Libreville from 3-8 March, winning three of their four games thanks in part to the MVP performance put on by Francis Kobangoye.

"Our qualification is deserved as all the players were determined to move to a higher level after such a long absence from the international scene," he said.

The last time Gabon took part in AfroBasket was in 2005 in Algeria, where the finished ninth and revealed to the world the talented Stephane Lasme who averaged 11.7 points and 10.1 rebounds.

Lasme, the 2012-13 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Best Defender, had no hesitation in announcing his return to the national team just after Gabon’s qualification.

This announcement delighted many players of the new generation including the 25-year-old guard Kobangoye.

"The comeback of Stephane [Lasme] brings more motivations but the important thing is the group that was our great asset during the group G qualifiers," he said.

Gabon were drawn in Group C of AfroBasket 2015 along with Egypt, Mali and Cameroon.

Kobangoye, who plays for Gabon side Tali BB, believes his team shouldn’t be overlooked.

"There are big nations with big name playrs on their rosters, but I think that at this level of competition you should not underestimate the opponents and especially the outsider like Gabon," he explaiend.

Gabon’s three opponents in the group have players with the ability to change a game, but the native of Port-Gentil remains confident.

"We must rely on the solidity of the group [rather] than the individuals," he warned.

When asked for his predictions of what Gabon will achieve this summer, Kobangoye doesn’t go into specifics but does say the team has in mind "to make history by achieving a better performance as in the last continental campaign."

FIBA