Senegal out to end Angola dominance at AfroBasket

Angola are defending champions and have clinched the title seven of the past eight editions heading into the 2015 event, which is being played in Tunisia.

But five-time winners Senegal are confident they can secure the crown for the first time since 1997.

Cheikh Sarr's team won three games at a four-team tournament in the lead-up to AfroBasket, which starts on Wednesday and whose winner is set for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Sarr said Senegal were taking plenty of confidence from the warm-up games.

"We played three games and we won them all," he told the FIBA website.

"It was important for the morale of my team especially playing against two big teams such as Cape Verde and Mali."

Minnesota Timberwolves' Gorgui Dieng is expected to play a leading role for Senegal, who are in Group B alongside Angola, Mozambique and Morocco.

Senegal were one of three wildcard recipients for AfroBasket, along with Algeria and Central African Republic (CAR).

CAR will face hosts and 2011 champions Tunisia, Uganda and Nigeria in Group A.

Runners-up in 2013, Egypt are in Group C with Gabon, Mali and Cameroon, while Group D is made up of Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, Algeria and Zimbabwe.