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Football - 27. October 2014.

Dongue to focus on Africa after World Championship

LUANDA (FIBA World Championship for Women/Campeonato Feminino de Basquetebol de Angola) - Leia Dongue's impressive campaign at the FIBA World Championship for Women generated a lot of praise as well as suggestions linking her to a move to Europe.

However, the Mozambique ace is entering her second year with Angolan champions Primeiro D'Agosto eager to take her game to another international stage, the African Cup Clubs for Women (ACCW) - FIBA Africa's top club event - a competition which D'Agosto has been chasing since 2006, the last time they enjoyed the taste of continental success.

At Turkey 2014, Dongue led Mozambique with 15.0 points and 11.7 rebounds in the team's three Group Phase games against Canada, France and hosts Turkey. She had double-doubles in each game as her country made its debut in the World Championship.

This year's edition of the ACCW will take place in Tunisia in November, and Dongue is already getting ready in helping the Angolan club reaching the top of continent.
But first, the star center and her club will need to finish in the top-two of the ACCW FIBA Africa Zone 6 qualifier due to take place in her native Maputo in early November.

"That's my focus for now," she told FIBA.com when asked about her immediate commitments.

It was three years ago that Dongue first made headlines and began building on her career.

At AfroBasket 2011, at the age of 20, the 1.85m forward led all players in rebounding with an average of 10.2 boardsper game, establishing herself as one of Africa's finest performers.

Last month in Ankara - where Mozambique played their Group B games at the World Championship - Dongue put her game to the test against better-equipped opposition but never felt intimidated.

"Two years ago (at the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) I knew nothing about playing in such a big competition," Dongue recalled.

It was a great feeling to share the court with some of the most talented players in the world. - Dongue

"The difference this year was that I was physical and mentally prepared to face such great players in the world championship, particularly Sandrine Gruda, a player that I like to watch playing with France as well in the WNBA."

As a result of their World Championship appearance, Mozambique climbed 11 places in FIBA bwin Ranking Women with only Serbia registering a higher improvement.

"I have to congratulate my teammates because we gave everything we had to lift our country's as well as Africa's flag," said Dongue.

We wish more African teams continue climbing in the FIBA bwin Ranking for the world to see that there is good basketball on our continent. - Dongue

"We are pleased with the outcome and our current FIBA Ranking, results from a combination of factors, including hard work from the national federation, coaching staff, the Mozambique Government, and more importantly, the support from the Mozambique people who never stopped supporting us."

Age is a factor for Mozambique. Five of the 12 players in their squad for Turkey 2014 were over the age on 30. The frequent conversation for a revamping of the team received a significant boost last month when the U18 team finished third in the African Championship in Cairo, Egypt.

For Dongue, that's encouraging news for a country that is yet to win a continental trophy, even though they will enter the 2015 edition of the African Championship among the frontrunners.

"I congratulate the U18 team of Mozambique for the good job they did in Egypt," she said. "Hopefully this third-place finish keep players and coaching staff motivated for the future."

FIBA

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