DAKAR (Senegal) – What's next for Senegal? Many people asked this question right after the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket draw last month.
The Lionesses are in Group C alongside Uganda and Guinea.
The biennial tournament will take place in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from July 26 to August 3 this year.
Senegal is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won eleven continental titles. However, they have faced stiff competition over the last decade.
Since winning their last Women’s AfroBasket title in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in 2015, they have finished second three times, including a disappointing runner-up finish at home in 2019.
The Lionesses now have almost as many second-place finishes (nine) as titles.
Their Achilles heel has been Nigeria, a team that has won the last four editions of the tournament.
Could the 2025 tournament be a turning point for Senegal?
"We are going to prepare well, and hopefully this time we will be able to beat them," a defiant Yacine Diop told FIBA.basketball.
Diop acknowledged that Uganda and Guinea can’t be taken lightly before going into details.
“It’s a good group, and it’s going to be a good competition,” said the 2012 U18 Women’s AfroBasket MVP.
One thing Diop is feeling good about is that they “will be ready when the time comes.”
"We definitely need to improve defensively. I feel like the last time we lost to Nigeria, it was because of our defense. We need to work on our defense and make our shots. I feel like it’s going to be a tough competition.”
Diop’s national team teammate, Fatou Pouye, described Uganda and Guinea as great teams. We just need to prepare to compete as we always do. We never know what rosters they are going to bring.”
Senegal is currently experiencing a generational shift, with Diop and Pouye emerging as the team’s future leaders.
Pouye said: "After our legends, Astou and Aya Traoré, it's been hard to find other players to step up. We have started that journey, and we are hoping and praying that we’ll be ready.
Other players and I really need to step up, keep studying the game, and get better. We have a great group; we just need to connect as a team.
FIBA