Mali ready for the 2016 FIBA Africa U18 Women’s Championship

BAMAKO (2016 FIBA Africa U18 Women’s Championship) – Defending champions Mali are ready for the 2016 FIBA Africa U18 Women's Championship as head coach Amadou Bamba has confirmed on Friday the 12-player final roster.

Five players from the team that played at FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship have been included on the final roster for the 2016 FIBA Africa U18 Women’s Championship which will take place from 26 August – 4 September in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo.

Head coach Bamba,who has his eyes set on a second straight continental crown, has called up Awa Sidibe, Djeneba Sangare, Rokia Doumbia, Nafatoumata Haidara and Salimatou Kourouma

Last month, Mali beat Portugal to clinch 11th place finish at the Zaragoza showdown with an impressive Salimatou Kourouma.

The 1.75m Small Forward, who sparked the west-african side with 15.6points and 10.6rebounds per game, will certainly be Mali’s main offensive weapon in Cairo.

Next week, Mali will enter court not only with the objective of retaining their continental crown, but they will also battle for one of the two spots on offer for African countries for the 2017 FIBA U19 Women’s World Championship due to take place in the Italian city of Udine.

The winners and the runners-up will get the rights to represent Africa at the world stage next summer.

List of the national teams qualified for the 2016 FIBA Africa U18 Women’s Championship: Algeria, Angola,Cote d’Ivoire, hosts Egypt,Madagascar,Mali,Mozambique,Tunisia,Uganda,and Zimbabwe.

FIBA