FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 hosts Mali pre-select 19 players for title bid
BAMAKO (FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017) - Not a single FIBA Women's AfroBasket host has won the trophy since Nigeria did it in 2005, but Mali are heading to this year's continental championship aiming to change the course of African basketball's recent history.
The FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 will run from August 18-27 in Bamako, Mali.
Senegal, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique and Cameroon have hosted the last five editions of the tournament, but it was a visitor who celebrated last.
"We can not say that we welcome the FIBA Women's AfroBasket and we do not want to win it. We have a burning desire to win it. Can we? Will the opponents let us win? We'll see." - Lautie
That's the reason why Mali new head coach Sylvain Lautie has called up the country's best 19 players to win the trophy that slipped away from their hands in their capital city of Bamako in 2011.
At the time, Mali lost to eventual champions Angola in the Semi-Finals although they bounced back claiming a third-place finish.
Among the pre-selected players is point guard Fatoumata Bagayoko who averaged a team-high 2.6 assists two years ago in Cameroon.
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Mali 19-player preliminary squad for FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 |
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| Fatoumata Bagayoko | Kounta Camara | Adama Coulibaly | Kankou Coulibaly |
| Mariam Coulibaly | Naignouma Coulibaly | Astan Dabo | Djene Diawara |
| Ramata Diakite | Touty Gandega | Minata Keita | Aissata Boubacar Maiga |
| Kadidiatou Maiga | Djeneba N'Diaye | Djenebou Sissoko | Meiya Tirera |
| Assitan Traore | Fatim Marena Traore | Nassira Traore | |
More than a second chance to win the FIBA Women's AfroBasket as hosts, Mali will also try to win the trophy for the first time since they travelled to neighbouring Senegal to claim their first-ever continental title in 2007.
Talking to local paper L'ESSOR, Lautie explained what makes him so confident: "Without being arrogant, I must say that we only have one objective, which is to win the trophy of the AfroBasket.
"We play at home, we must win at all costs. In sport, there is no truth. Two years ago, in Bamako, the U16 (boys) lost by one point to Egypt in the final. Our goal is to win. We can not say that we welcome the AfroBasket and we do not want to win it. We have a burning desire to win it. Can we? Will the opponents let us win? We'll see."
Sylvain Lautie led Mali to a seventh-place finish at FIBA AfroBasket 2015 in Tunisia
Mali have been drawn in Group A, alongside Cameroon, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, Angola and a team to attributed a wild card.
"The two groups are balanced," Lautie insisted. "We will have to be wary of certain teams. I'm not going to give names. I do not want the opponents to read my thoughts in a negative way to motivate their players. I will not comment on our opponents. We have an athletic group of players. For me, the first three games will be key."
Nassira Traore was averaging eight points per game when she suffered a knee injury in the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2015 Quarter-Finals
Two years ago, in Yaounde, Cameroon, Mali's forward Nassira Traore suffered a knee injury in the Quarter-Finals against eventual champions Senegal. And Lautie, acknowledges that his players' fitness should be crucial.
"We have the means and the potential to win the trophy. But, there are always vagaries such as injuries before the start of the competition. They are always a threat. But potentially, we have a strong group."
The 12-team competition will serve as a qualifier for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 in Spain. Two tickets are up for grabs for African teams for Spain.
FIBA
