AfroBasket 2015 - Team Profile: Senegal

DAKAR (AfroBasket 2015) - In the lead-up to AfroBasket 2015, we take a closer look at all 16 participating teams competing in the championship running from 19-30 August.

Team: Senegal
FIBA Ranking Men: 30th
Last participation in the AfroBasket: 2013 (5 wins, 2 defeats; 3rd place)
Best result in the history of the AfroBasket: African champions in 1968, 1972, 1978, 1980 and 1997
Qualified for AfroBasket 2015 - Awarded a wild card to participate at AfroBasket 2015.

History/Qualification: The five-time African champions last finished on the top step of the continental podium when they hosted AfroBasket 1997. Since then, Senegal have experienced ups and downs, including a ninth-place finish - their worst outcome ever in African Championship - at AfroBasket 2007.

After finishing third at AfroBasket 2013 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal failed to qualify for this year's edition of Africa's flagship event. However they were one of three teams awarded a wild card.

Key Player: Gorgui Dieng and Maleye Ndoye are the team's inspirational leaders.

While sharpshooter Ndoye is set to make his sixth straight AfroBasket appearance, Dieng had a breakout season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaging career-highs 9.7 points, 8.3 rebounds in 30 minutes per game.

But Dieng's impact within the Senegalese national team is even bigger.

At the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the 25-year-old led the team to their best-ever run on the world stage. And he has always made clear his desire of helping Senegal claim their first continental title since 1997. 

Sorely Missed: Maurice Ndour and Hamady Ndiaye will not represent Senegal in Tunisia.  Ndour signed his first NBA contract with the Dallas Mavericks, while Ndiaye has reportedly chosen to focus on his club career.

Rising Star: Born in France to a French father and a Senegalese mother, 21-year-old Yannis Delaruelle is one of the new faces among the Senegalese preliminary squad. The 1.85m point guard has played college basketball at Saint John's Johnnies.

Talking about his chances of making the final roster, Delaruelle said: "I'm staying optimistic. I can bring to the team my leadership and energy. I evolve in the United States, I played in France, Israel, therefore I have a little experience of international basketball, even though I'm still young."

Outlook: Senegal are athletic, energetic, talented and ambitious. They will need all these assets against their Group A opponents which include defending continental champions Angola, Morocco and Mozambique.

They are one of the most athletic teams - along with Nigeria - and real title contenders.

Senegal aspire to win the tournament, not only because they fell short of doing so two years ago, but also because they feel obliged to do so and no one can blame them for setting their goals so high.

Based on Senegal's World Cup campaign, which included wins over Croatia and Puerto Rico, it becomes clear what they are aiming for at Tunisia 2015.

As a result of their World Cup display (2 wins and 4 losses), Senegal climbed a staggering 11 places in the FIBA World Ranking Men.

Senegal's strongest point is surely their consistency.

While coach Cheikh Sarr remains at the helm of the team, most of their key players such as Mouhammad Faye, Maleye Ndoye and Mamadou Ndoye have played at least two African championships together. 

On the Africa scene, the Senegalese have grown steadily over the better part of the past decade, having finished ninth (2007), seventh (2009), fifth (2011) and third (2013). 

Will they claim gold in 2015? Let time tell us.

In just six words: On a mission to African title.

FIBA