DAKAR (Senegal) - Ahead of next month's FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers, the Senegal team setup is already coming together with assistant coach Pabi Gueye in position to take over from Boniface Ndong who is unavailable due to commitments in the NBA season as a Denver Nuggets player development coach. 

Big teams are defined by their ability to adjust to change especially amidst a crisis such as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Senegal is one such team. Be it with players or coaches, they are not lacking in a combination to win games.

"IT IS A PLEASURE TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY AT THE TOP LEVEL. I AM WORKING WITH BONIFACE NDONG IN THIS SELECTION AS AN ASSISTANT. WE ARE IN THE CONTINUITY OF THE TOURNAMENT IN KIGALI."- Gueye

Senegal sit on top of Group B with maximum points from three games and will be looking to maintain an unbeaten run when they lineup in the last window from February 17-21 in Yaounde, Cameroon.

For Gueye, this is an opportunity to lead his charges and book a slot at the final tournament in Kigali, Rwanda set for August 24 to September 5 later this year. 

Pabi Gueye (second from left) is ready for the challenge ahead

He told FIBA.basketball that, "For this window, I will lead the team and it will be my first international experience as a head coach but I do not put pressure on myself.

"I will encourage creativity, promote the development of players, remain at the origin of all initiatives and cultivate small imbalances while giving them great respect and consideration. In addition, they are professional players who do not need motivation on the court. They know that Senegal's goal is always to win in any campaign.

"This window allows us to prepare for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the next AfroBasket. So we are going to come with a winning spirit and the goal will be to win games."

Pabi Gueye has served as Senegal assistant to three different coaches over the last three years

Gueye will have veteran Mouhammad Faye back into the squad after he recovered from an injury that that adds more experience to the squad that will once again be boosted by the presence of Youssoupha Ndoye and Ibrahima Faye who proved their worth in November and will be hoping to replicate their performance then. 

"Mouhammad Faye is a member of the team. He was not in Kigali because of an injury but it is always a pleasure to have him on our team with his professionalism , his commitment and his know-how. It is a real pleasure to see him in the selection. He has always answered the call of the fatherland. He is a soldier as he often likes to remember," Gueye explained further. 

Faye brings experience to the Senegalese side

Gueye has named three locally based players who feature for AS Douanes on the final list of 12 in a bid to give them continued exposure at this level. 

"The national team belongs to everyone as Boniface said. During these windows, we will try to cast a wide net to see all the Senegalese players scattered around the four corners of the world. Therefore it is normal to find local players in the team," he added.

"As an example, Alkaly Mamadou Ndour, leader of AS Douanes was in very fine form last November. It was his first international campaign with  the Lions. This is just to tell you that the locals can also contribute something to the selection. The presentation of AS Douanes players in this shortlist of 19 has nothing to do with BAL. Louis Adams has been with the national team for over 10 years."

"Serigne Bamba Gueye has played tournaments including the 2016 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila. Cheikh Bamba Diallo made the youth categories with Senegal. He played in the 2013 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Prague." 

Senegal will be up against Kenya in their opening tie next month on February 19 before taking on Mozambique the next day. They will finish against Angola in their last encounter on February 21 hoping to qualify for the FIBA AfroBasket in Rwanda. 

 FIBA