SEN - New coach Toure calls up 24 for AfroBasket Women

DAKAR (AfroBasket Women/FIBA World Championship Women) - When Senegal's women's national steps on floor at this summer's AfroBasket Women there is a chance of very few changes compared to the team that competed in the tournament two years ago.

One of the evident changes is at the helm, with head coach Pape Moussa Toure who took over from Moustapha Gaye.

Last week, Toure announced a 24-player preliminary squad that includes nine of the 12 players who helped Senegal to finish runners-up in the 2011 AfroBasket held in Mali.

The team is expected to start a training camp later this week in Dakar followed by a participation in the Francophone Games to be staged in Bordeaux, France, in August.

Among the pre-selected players, Toure picked Aya and Astou Traore, a duo that has become the team's iconic reference in recent years.

Astou led the team in scoring two years ago while Aya was the key player of the team that won the country its 10th African title four years ago in Madagascar.

Both Marie Sy and Aminata Diop, the dominant rebounders, are included in the books of the new coach who hopes to see the pair stick with crashing the boards.

The 2013 AfroBasket Women runs from 20-29 September in Mozambique's capital city of Maputo.

Although Senegal is Africa's most successful women's team with 10 titles, they were denied back-to-back continental titles in 2011 following a 62-54 defeat to Angola in the Final.

The Lionesses will open their continental campaign against Egypt in Group A before they take on Cote d'Ivoire, Algeria, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

In order to make their fifth consecutive appearance at a FIBA World Championship for Women, Toure's team must finish in the top two teams of the AfroBasket.

The 2014 world event will take place in Turkey.

From the team that competed in Mali 2011, coach Toure called up Fatou Dieng, Aya Traore, Ndeye Sene, Astou Traore, Marie Sy, Ndeye Ndiaye, Oumoul Sarr, Aminata Diop and Diodio Diouf.

Awa Gueye and Jeanne Senghor, who both featured at the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic, and are also included in the preliminary squad.

Fatoumata Diango who averaged seven points per game at the 2009 AfroBasket Women is given a chance while other players include Lena Badiane, Elisa Diatta, Oumou Thiam, Meriem Dia, Sabel Diatta, Fatoumata Sall, Sokhna Sy, Mame Sy, Ndeye Fall, Maimouna Diarra, Rama Ndiaye and Aida Fall.

FIBA