BAMAKO (FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017) - Ousmane Traore spent this past March getting an invaluable experience ahead of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 as he played for Mali in the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Qualifiers.

The 18-year-old Traore made his senior national team debut with Mali in March, facing Guinea, Cape Verde and Senegal in four games at the continental qualifiers. The 6ft 4in (192cm) forward missed all four of his shots in the 17 minutes of action while collecting 0 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.

"I was surprised but honored when I received the invitation to join the senior team for the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Qualifiers," Traore said. "Even if it was a childhood dream to play at this level, it happened at a very unexpected moment."

Ousmane Traore was only 18 years old when he made his Mali senior national team debut in the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 Qualifiers. 

And the Bamako native believes the experience of playing with the country's top players will help him when Mali make their second trip to FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup this summer following 2007.

"Participating in the FIBA ​​AfroBasket 2017 Qualifiers allowed me to understand that hard work always pays," Traore said.

Mali will take on Canada, Japan and Spain in Group C at the U19 spectacle in Cairo from 1-9 July. Mali booked their ticket to Egypt by claiming third place at the FIBA U18 African Championship 2016. But Traore was not satisfied with the result.

"For me this is unfinished business as our main target was the title. But this is the game and I must accept this result and move forward," said Traore, who averaged 13.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists at the U18 tournament.

"It is a pity that we did not reach the top step of the podium in Rwanda, but qualifying for a world event is always a good thing. And we will fight for better results in Cairo."

"Our team will be made up of players who have been playing together for a while. The core of the team will consist of players who featured at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup and those who played at last year’s FIBA U18 African Championship. We know each other well enough, and I hope that everyone will be ready when the action tips off."TraoreTraore

It may be 10 years since Mali is appearing at the U19 competition, but Traore said he and his compatriots are not just in Cairo to make up the numbers.

"It is obvious that this type of tournament gathers the best young players in the world. But I will point out a very important fact that could help us a lot. Our team will be made up of players who have been playing together for a while. The core of the team will consist of players who featured at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup and those who played at last year's FIBA U18 African Championship," Traore said.

Four of the players from Mali's U18 team - Lassana Haidara, Mahamadou Diawara, Moulaye Mamadou Sissoko and Blaise Keita - played for Mali last summer in Zaragoza in the country's debut at the U17 global showcase.

"We know each other well enough, and I hope that everyone will be ready when the action tips off," Traore said.

Traore even sees the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 as kind of an try-out - namely for the FIBA AfroBasket 2017.

"It is always a great honor to represent your country in any sports event. I think this competition will be an opportunity for me to show that I deserve a place in the final cut for the FIBA ​​AfroBasket 2017," the 18-year-old Traore said. "It is a good thing that the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup takes place just a few days before the continental flagship tournament."

The FIBA AfroBasket 2017 will take place 19-30 August in Angola. Until then, Traore actually could use the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup to work up his confidence of playing in Angola as well.

FIBA