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05 - 10
July 2016
ESP vs SEN; 11 Mouhammad FAYE (Senegal); 8 José CALDERON (Spain)
17/02/2016
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Faye positive about Senegal’s chances in the Manila OQT

VARESE (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Mouhammad Faye’s future with the Senegal national team remains uncertain, but the 30-year-old forward is adamant his country could do well in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Manila, Philippines.

The tournament will run from 5-10 July.

The Western Africans, who claimed a fourth-place finish at AfroBasket 2015 last August in Tunisia, will face Turkey and Canada in Group A, looking to finish in the top two.

If they do finish in the top two places of the group, Senegal will take on a team from Group B that includes France, New Zealand and the Philippines in a Semi-Final.

In order to grab the only spot on offer for the Rio Games, Senegal would need to beat their Semi-Finals opponent.

“It’s a tough group for us, but if the team sticks together and play our game anything could happen,” Faye said to FIBA.com

The 2.06m forward, who has become one of the most regulars with Senegal national team - having featured in five consecutive African championships - continued: “The team just needs to be ready. This is not an easy competition, but we have already shown how competitive we are in big competitions.”

Faye, who joined Pallacanestro Varese in Italy’s topflight Serie A in the summer, neither confirms nor denies his future with his national team.

As Senegal tried to win their first African title, since 1997, last August in Rades, Tunisia, Faye was sent home for disciplinary reasons, but he has reportedly apologised for an alleged altercation with a member of the team.

At the time Faye had helped Senegal in a 77-71 win over Morocco. He finished with 5 points and 3 rebounds in 35:14 minutes, including this thunderous dunk.

The Senegalese Basketball Federation is expected to announce the new coaching team in the coming weeks, and Faye insists the team has the pieces to succeed in Manila.

At the [2014 FIBA Basketball] World Cup few believed we could beat those teams [Croatia and Puerto Rico], and we proved doubters wrong. So, going to Manila [for the OQT], Senegal should use the same approach. Who knows what can happen?. - Faye

Historically, Senegal have never beaten Canada. In their two World Cup meetings, the North Americans prevailed, winning 60-42 in 1978, followed by a 70-57 in the 1998 Athens FIBA World Championship.

Senegal will open their OQT Group Phase campaign taking on Canada on 6 July, before squaring off against Turkey a day later.

FIBA