PRAIA ( Cape Verde) - Giant center Edy Tavares and a host of other veterans are in the Cape Verde squad for the country's debut FIBA Basketball World Cup appearance in Okinawa.

Tavares, 31, a towering 2.21m (7ft 3in) pivot on the books of Real Madrid and one of the best players in European basketball, appeared in seven African Qualifiers games and averaged 14.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.

At FIBA AfroBasket 2021, Tavares made the All-Star Five after spearheading the Blue Sharks' run to the Semi-Finals.

Other veterans in the squad are Ivan Almeida, Joel Almedia, Fidel Mendonca, Kenneti Mendes and Anderson Correia.

The Almeidas are linchpins and played in 10 of the qualifiers games. Ivan Almeida averaged 12.2 points and a team-high 3.7 assists per game.

Cape Verde are the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup, and this summer could end up having one of the oldest rosters.

Joel Almeida is 37 years old while Ivan will be 34. Mendonca will be 39.

Jeffrey Xavier, who came out of retirement during the qualification campaign, is not on the extended list.

Cape Verde open their World Cup against Georgia on the second day of the competition. They take on Venezuela next, and then Slovenia.

FIBA