Mali unveil final roster for #AfroBasketWomen 2019

DAKAR (Senegal) - Mali head coach Sylvain Lautie has announced his final 12 players for the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019.

The 12-team competition commences on August 10 through to 18 and will be played at the magnificent newly constructed Dakar Arena in the outskirts of the Senegalese capital.

With the objective of improving their third place finish two years ago at home, Lautie has maintained eight players from that squad and introduced four youthful players to give his side a new dimension going forward strengthening the back court. 

Rokia Doumbia, who has come through the ranks from U16 to U18, will be making her senior national team debut at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket and her inclusion on the team has already spelt Lautie's intentions to further improve this Malian side while maintaining the top brass from the country's renowned grassroots program highly envied by many. 

Mali come into this edition hoping to replicate their form back in 2007 when they stunned the hosts and won their first and only African title but aside from their biggest arch-rivals Senegal, they will also face tight competition from the reigning champions Nigeria and two-time winners Angola.

Mali have until now become the "Almost Team" only coming so close yet so far away from the title in recent campaigns and will be looking to break that jinx when they face Angola in their opening game on Saturday afternoon. 

A place in the Top Six will also ensure that they qualify for the Tokyo 2020 prequalifying tournament and that is something they are keen on achieving thus far. 

 FIBA