Mali coach Kane brings back historic U16 champions for U17 camp
BAMAKO (FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018) - Mali head coach Mamoutou Kane has nominated all 12 players that won the country's first-ever international title among the 15-man preliminary squad for training camp ahead of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018.
The entire side that won the FIBA U16 African Championship 2017 will be fighting for a spot on Kane's team headed to Argentina later this month, where Mali will take on the four-time reigning champions United States, China and Serbia in Group B.
| Mali's 15-player preliminary roster for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 | |||
| Oumar Ballo | Bourama Coulibaly | Michel Sidiki Coulibaly | Kalilou Dembele |
| Moussa Diakite | N'Tio Modibo Diarra | Fousseny Dieng | Mamoudou Diop |
| Siriman Kanoute | Daouda Keita | Mohamed Keita | Adama Sanogo |
| Mohamed Sidibe | Alou Badra Traore | Fousseyni Traore | |
Included in the 15-man squad is point guard Siriman Kanoute, who was named MVP of the tournament last summer after averaging 24.8 points and 4.3 assists, including a 50-point outburst against Mauritius.
Center Oumar Ballo is also back after he averaged 14.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in a showing that earned him a spot in the All-Star Five.
One notable absentee from the list is star US-based center N’Faly Dante, who played at the U17 World Cup in 2016 as a 14-year-old but did not appear at the U16 Africa campaign last summer.
FIBA
