DAKAR (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - The Senegal Basketball Federation (FSBB) on Wednesday confirmed the withdrawal of Gorgui Dieng from the preliminary squad for next month's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Manila and in the process introduced new recruit Clevin Hannah and new head coach Porfirio Fisac.

According to the Agence de Presse Senegalaise citing an FSBB source, Dieng elected to withdraw his name from the list of eligible players for the OQT, but should be with the team although he will not take part in the tournament.

Senegal have been drawn in the Manila OQT Group A along with Canada and Turkey. From 5-10 July, Fisac's side will compete in the six-team tournament for the only place on offer for the Rio Olympics.

I came to bring my experience and help the team. - Hannah

Although Maurice Ndour and Hamady Ndiaye - key players in Senegal's deep run at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup - are yet to report to the team and point guard Xane D'Almeida has been ruled out through injury, the attention has turned to New York native Hannah who has filled the naturalised spot.

The 28-year-old point guard, who last played for Dominion Bilbao in Spain's ACB League, thanked the FSBB for the opportunity of being able to represent the Western Africans at the OQT.

Talking to the local media, the 1.79m playmaker said: "Senegal is a basketball-loving country, and has very good players. This is a great opportunity for me to express myself. I came to bring my experience and help the team."

Dieng and Xane D'Almeida powered Senegal to a fourth-place at AfroBasket 2015

Meanwhile, Fisac, after opening team's OQT preparations on Tuesday with 16 players, insisted he joined to team to adopt a new strategy and prepare the future.

"For me, it is important that players give everything on the basketball court," the play-caller noted. "We are looking to adopt a spirit of togetherness as well as a winning mindset. We know that the OQT is a tough competition but we are going there to play as a team."

If Senegal get through the Group Phase at the OQT, they will face a Group B side - France, the Philippines or New Zealand - in a Semi-Final. The two Semi-Final winners will play each other with a spot for the Rio Olympics  at stake.

FIBA