FIBA U17W - Mali make Africa proud with first win at U17 Worlds

AMSTERDAM (2012 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) – Mali made sure that they would not repeat their winless last place showing at the inaugural FIBA U17 World Championship for Women in 2010 by making after Africa proud with their first victory at the 2012 edition.

The 2010 veteran Mariam Maiga made six three-pointers in scoring 18 points as Mali beat Brazil 58-51 in the 9-12 classification games, meaning the Africans will play Korea for ninth place on Saturday.

“I am very, very happy. We played as a team and our will made us win. We were so determined to get a win and we did it. In 2010, we were last but it won’t be the case this year,” said Maiga, who was just 13 years old in the tournament two summers ago in France where Mali lost all seven games.

“It’s our first win in a World Championship in this age group. We are very happy, and we dedicate it to all Malians who are going through tough times,” said Mali coach Oumarou Sidiya, who was also coach in 2010.

“Despite these tough times, the people, the state and the federation have done everything in their power to make sure we could take part in this tournament."

Mali knew they could not stack up with the biggest teams in the world. But they didn’t want to finish last.

“We couldn’t leave here empty-handed. We needed to get at least one win for all the people in Mali. This is what this win means to us and why we’re so happy today,” said the coach.

Mali showed a strong will to win the game as they survived a Brazil comeback and still beat the South Americans. The Malians led by as many as 15 points early in the third quarter, but watched Brazil streak into the lead with a 20-4 run for a one-point lead after three quarters.

Djeneba N'Diaye and Maiga both hit big three-pointers in the final four minutes and Aissata Mamy Fomba made two free-throws with 25 seconds left to secure the game.

“We knew that winning a game in the group stage would be near impossible but that in a classification game we would do our best not to finish last,” said Maiga.

But the Africans are hungry for more.

“It would really be the cherry on the sundae if we could finish ninth. So, we’re going to do everything we can to do better against Korea than we did the last time,” said Sidiya, who team lost 76-61 in Group A action.

But certain is that African has been made proud.

FIBA