Senegal name experienced roster for FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2021 camp
DAKAR (Senegal) - Record 12-time African champions Senegal have named a 19-woman strong roster for their first training camp ahead of the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2021.
Shockingly, head coach Moustapha Gaye has omitted FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017 MVP Astou Traore, a very key figure in the side's success story in the last decade.
| Senegal 19-player shortlist for FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2021 | |||
| Fatou Diagne | Maimouna Diarra | Sabelle Tening Diatta | Binetou Dieme |
| Mathilde Aicha Diop | Yacine Diop | Aminata Fall | Maty Fall |
| Jeannette Guilavogui | Couna Ndaw | Elma Kinta Malou | Ndeye Fatou Ndiaye |
| Madjiguene Sene | Ndeye Khady Sene | Mame-Marie Sy | Sokhna Lycka Sy |
| Oumou Kalsoum Toure | Aya Traoré | Fatou Sylla | |
Two-time FIBA Women's AfroBasket MVP Aya Traore leads the trio as she returns to the national team. The 36-year-old has always been a fan favourite and a marvel to watch, dominating the court and inspiring Senegal to two continental conquests in 2009 and 2015.
The 1.83m (6ft) forward’s ability to take the game to another level saw her feature in six continental competitions with Senegal dazzling and appearing in five finals during that period.
Her knowledge accrued during a 14-year glittering international career will be key in nurturing Senegal’s younger players.
Aya Traore was not part of last year's squad in Dakar
She will be linking up with the Sy sisters- Mame-Marie and Lycka with the latter returning to the squad for the first time since the [FIBA Women's] AfroBasket 2017 edition in Bamako, Mali.
The 35-year-old Mame-Marie averaged 11 points, 3.2 rebounds and an assist for Senegal as they went all the way to the final last year losing to Nigeria in a thriller.
She also starred for the West African side in the 2020 Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament churning 10.3 points and 4.7 rebounds even though her efforts were not enough to guide Senegal to the final round of qualification in Belgrade, Serbia.
Equipe nationale féminine : 19 joueuses convoquées pour un stage au mois d’Août@belle_fiba @FIBA https://t.co/0TeEsoA1Te
— 🇸🇳BasketSenegal🇸🇳 (@Basket_Senegal) June 8, 2020
The old guard will be blending with a cast of young talented players including Yacine Diop and Fatou Diagne who are emerging as the next generation that could take Senegal to even greater heights.
Diop, 24, dropped 7. 2 points and 4.2 rebounds on her maiden appearance on the continental scene at last year's [FIBA Women's] AfroBasket at home in Dakar.
Gaye and his side will begin gearing up in August with the Senegalese tactician hoping to put to good use the wealth of experience in his squad.
FIBA
