What is at stake?
For the Belgian Cats, this qualifying tournament is the first and last chance for a ticket for the Olympic Games in Paris. Host country France and reigning world and Olympic champion America are the only two countries that are currently certain of a place in Paris. Fourteen teams are still in the running for the remaining ten places. They try to qualify for one of the four Olympic qualifying tournaments that will take place simultaneously from February 8 to 11. At the same time as the tournament in Antwerp, basketball is also being played in Brazil, China and Hungary. A total of twelve women’s teams will soon be able to compete for Olympic medals in Paris. Three years ago in Tokyo, the Belgian Cats lost in the quarter-final against Japan.
What do the Belgian Cats have to do to get that Olympic ticket?
The Belgian Cats have been placed in a tournament with the US, Senegal and Nigeria. In each of the four Olympic qualifying tournaments, three countries qualify for the Olympic Games. Because in Belgium’s group, the US as world champion is already assured of a ticket for the Games, the two best countries in addition to the US in this group can go to Paris 2024. This means that the Belgian Cats must perform better than Senegal or Nigeria (see schedule below). One win is enough for a second consecutive qualification for the Olympic Games.
How difficult are those opponents on the way to Paris?
Difficult, but doable. Firstly, the Belgian Cats have a significant bonus on the competition with the home advantage. A sold-out Sportpaleis against the US and well-filled stands against Senegal and Nigeria should give the Belgian women a big boost. The draw also favored the European champion. Of course, the US is hors catégorie. But the American star ensemble, number 1 in the world and winner of the last seven Olympic Games and four last world championships, has already qualified for Paris. They only come to Antwerp to warm up for the real work in six months’ time.
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The Cats therefore have to deal with two African countries. Based on the world rankings, Belgium (sixth) is better than Nigeria (eleventh) and Senegal (twentieth). Belgium also performed stronger than these two countries at the most recent major tournaments (World Cup and Olympic Games), although Nigeria was excluded from the previous World Cup for political reasons. African women’s basketball is seriously catching up. The lost European Championship qualifying match against Poland at the end of last year also showed that the Belgian Cats sometimes have difficulty with physical opponents. On paper, Nigeria is the toughest customer. Last summer it won the final of the African Championship with 84-74 against Senegal. Belgium – Senegal on Friday evening will probably be a crucial match.
Is there still room in the stands?
The showdown between European champion Belgium and Olympic champion America on Thursday is completely sold out. All 13,700 tickets flew out the door. This smashes the record number of spectators for a women’s match in team sports in Belgium. The previous record in women’s football was held by Standard Liège, with 9,027 supporters.
The Antwerp Sports Palace normally accommodates approximately 18,000 spectators during a basketball match, but because the finals (women’s/men’s) of the Belgian Volleyball Cup will also take place on Saturday, February 10, the backstage side is closed. There are still places available for the match against Senegal on Friday evening (currently 7,000 tickets sold) and the match against Nigeria on Sunday afternoon (currently 10,000 tickets sold).
How can I follow the match at home?
Those who cannot be there in Antwerp can watch all the matches live on the VRT channels. Het Nieuwsblad is of course the right place for news, reports, reactions and analyses.
What do the Belgian Cats earn from Olympic qualification?
It is common knowledge that the Belgian Cats do not receive premiums like, for example, the Red Devils. If the Cats qualify for the Olympic Games for a second consecutive time, each player will receive 3,000 euros.
Which players have been selected for the Belgian Cats?
The coaching staff of the Belgian Cats made a preselection of fourteen names. All players who became European champions last summer are there again, supplemented by Next Gen talents such as Ine Joris and Nastja Claessens. Player and Promise of the Year Claessens and strongman Kyara Linskens are uncertain due to an injury. The final selection will follow on February 6.
Preselectie: Julie Vanloo (Galatasaray), Elise Ramette (Cadi La Seu), Maxuella Lisowa-Mbaka (Villeneuve D’Ascq), Antonia Delaere (CB Avenida), Laure Résimont (Kangoeroes Mechelen), Becky Massey (IDK Euskotren), Nastja Claessens (Castors Braine), Billie Massey (Estudiantes Madrid), Ine Joris (Castors Braine), Serena-Lynn Geldof (Casademont Zaragoza), Emma Meesseman (Fenerbahce Istanbul), Kyara Linskens (Montpellier), Bethy Mununga (Villeneuve D’Ascq), Julie Allemand (ASVEL Lyon)
Program Olympic qualifying tournament in Antwerp
Thursday February 8, 2024
18u15 Senegal – Nigeria
8:45 PM USA – Belgium
Friday February 9, 2024
18u15 Nigeria – USA
8:45 PM Belgium – Senegal
Sunday February 11, 2024
4:45 PM Belgium – Nigeria
19u15 Senegal – USA