Senegal will try to 'surprise' teams at U19 World Cup, Faye says

AVILA (Spain) - Senegal are making their return to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup this summer and star big man Biram Faye said the African country is shooting to ‘surprise’ its opponents in Heraklion.

Senegal qualified for the 2019 U19 World Cup after finishing second at the FIBA U18 African Championship 2018, securing the country’s first appearance at the U19 global showcase since 2013. Senegal’s reward is a spot in Group A along with Lithuania, New Zealand and United States.

"This is a very difficult group but we will try to surprise them and to be respected," said Faye, who was named to the All-Star Five at the U18 African Championship last summer in helping Senegal reach the Final against winners and hosts Mali.

And about playing against the mighty United States, he said: "It will be a very special game but our goal is to beat all of our rivals and to keep learning."

Faye averaged 21.7 points and 15.1 rebounds to go with 3.0 blocks, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals as Senegal last summer were playing in their first U18 competition since winning the tournament in 2012. The federation suspended its youth program following the 2013 U19 World Cup amid an age-falsification scandal. Getting to play at the international stage meant a lot to Faye.

"It was different. I felt that I had to lead this group of players and we did our best but beating Mali at home was not easy," said Faye, who picked up 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks in the 78-76 loss in the Final to Mali. "It was a very tough game and both Amar (Sylla) and myself were very tired as we had played over 30 minutes in each previous game. We had a real chance to beat them but at the end they were playing at home and with a great crowd."

Senegal is back on the youth basketball map

Reaching the U19 World Cup is also important for Senegal to have its youth program back on the global stage.

"It means a lot for us and for Senegal. I would love to be selected to play the U19 World Cup and will try to contribute to our progress as a national team," Faye said.

Faye’s progress continued this past season in Spain, where he moved from top flight Gran Canaria to third division LEB Silver club Avila.

"It has been a big step in quality in my career," said Faye, who has averaged 11.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks this season with eight double-doubles, including five in a six-game stretch. "It was my first real experience as a professional."

Faye, who moved from Senegal to Spain in 2016 at 16 years of age, is actually one of many Senegal players from the U18 team that are learning the game in Spain - along with Amar Sylla of Real Madrid, Khadim Fall with Caceres, Mouhamed Sow with Fuenlabrada and Cheikh Diop of Manresa. And that will help the country’s program take another step.

"I am sure in the next three or four years we will be able to make a better national team for Senegal," Faye said. "In Spain, we find good clubs that take care of us and very good coaches that teach us how to play. It is not easy to be away from your home and we work very hard with the Spanish clubs."

That hard work has Senegal back at the U19 World Cup and Biram Faye hopes he and his teammates can spring a few surprises in Greece.

FIBA