DAKAR (Senegal) - Senegal marched to the next round of FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers in fine style on Thursday night after beating Côte d'Ivoire 85-72 in a Group A clash.
With DR Congo clinching a victory over Madagascar, which ensured the Central African nation qualified for the next round of the qualifiers, the match-up between Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire was just as crucial, as a win for either nation would improve their World Cup qualification chances going into the next round.
Côte d'Ivoire came into this fixture having won the second window fixture at the same venue between February and March, so Senegal had a score to settle, and they did.
"I am proud of my team. I challenged them (the players) because in our friendly against Guinea, and the games against Congo and Madagascar in February, we did not have a good start. We needed a good start, and when we got it, we never looked back," said Senegal coach DeSagana Diop.
Senegal team captain Brancou Badio, who led with 23 points, and Babacar Sane, who finished with 16, dominated for their country, as they finished the first half with 14 points.
Badio's playmaking and scoring kept Senegal in the ascendancy, while Sane deftly drove to the rim and put back shots that rimmed out.
"They made their run in the second half, but we stuck together and got the job done," said Badio
Defensively, the host nation were in their element, recording 12 blocks at the turn of the fourth quarter. Big men Ibou Badji (4) and Tacko Fall (3) led the way in getting stops for the Senegalese.
They also recorded a massive 56 rebounds, with 39 coming from the defensive end.
FIBA