Not even her pregnancy prevented Nacissela Maurício from being present in yet another Afrobasket. Former captain was honored by FIBA

Considered the 'most valuable player' (MVP) of the women's Afrobasket twice – 2011 and 2013 – the former captain of the national team was part of a list of former practitioners from the African continent who, despite her motherhood, continued to play at another level and they are still a reference in the modality today.

In a publication on the official website of the tournament, FIBA ​​says that, in a continent where many women tend to shorten their sporting careers to become mothers, there is a group of athletes willing to change this narrative.

It is here that the name Nacissela Maurício appears. The Angolan is now vice-president of the Angolan Basketball Federation and played a key role in the performance of Angola in the most recent edition of Afrobasket, which took place in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Despite being almost seven months pregnant, the former captain did not refuse the challenge of accompanying the team, leading the delegation in the latest edition of Afrobasket.

"This is my environment. I have always loved the game of basketball and I even felt a little nostalgic when we arrived in Yaoundé", said the Angolan, upon returning to the city where she played her last Afrobasket, in 2015.

At 41, Maurício is expecting his third child, who should be born in December. The player is also the mother of a 16-year-old girl who already plays basketball in Portugal and of a 18-month-old boy, who was born after the athlete ended her professional playing career.

Despite a busy family life, she was unable to move away from the sport: "It is up to us, former players, the important mission of taking African basketball to the next level," she said.

FIBA also mentioned the names of Nadir Manuel and Rosa Gala, who left for a period of time to be mothers, but returned to the sport to do "what they know best".

Remember that the women's basketball team finished the competition in eighth place. The competition was won by Nigeria, who defeated Mali 70-59 this Sunday.