Sane, Khalifa star as Senegal see off Mali

CAIRO (Egypt) - Babacar Sane and Khalifa Ababacar Diop registered double doubles to guide Senegal to a 80-78 victory over arch-rivals Mali in their opening game at the FIBA U18 African Championship on Friday. 

Sane brought intensity to the game from the onset providing stability to the Senegalese side that almost got caught up in the back and forth nudging by the Malians. 

Center Ibou Dianko Badji picked two quick fouls in the opening four minutes of the game forcing head coach Madiene Fall to introduce El Hadji Ngom to hold the ship together in the paint and he did not disappoint eventually amassing 11 points and six rebounds. 

Khalifa clears the ball off the glass

Senegal led 23-17 in the first quarter before opening a 10-point lead at the half time mark 45-35. The Malians fought hard to come back into the game in the third quarter but Senegal were more organized and to lead 61-52. 

In the last quarter, Mali stepped on the pedal to press the Senegalese high up the court and ultimately forced three straight turnovers that made it count at the other end. Mali cut down Senegal's lead to 78-72 with 52 seconds to play. 

Mali's N'Tio Modibo Diarra was fouled in the paint and his trip to the charity line did not amass anything but captain Mohamed Sidibe was quick to pick the rebound and drop a basket. 

Sidibe scored 15 points and picked 14 rebounds for Mali

Senegal turned the ball over and Fall called a timeout that resulted into a man-to-man defense that caused Mali's Bourama Coulibaly to turn the ball over with 20 seconds to play.

Mali were at it again with another full court press that put pressure on Senegal but this crumbled as point guard Moustapha Mboup was fouled. He missed his first attempt and made the second to bring Senegal to a 79-74 lead. 

Coulibaly was fouled and he converted both on the line to bring Mali within three points of Senegal and with 13 seconds to play, Mboup was back to the charity line and made one missing the other to make it 80-76.

Sidibe picked a defensive rebound and made a layup to bring Mali within two points 80-78 but time was not on their side. 

"This was a very tough game because Mali are warriors. They are a good team and we knew that before the game. We started very well and tried to maintain this momentum but in the end, we lost concentration as a team. We shall take the win and correct our mistakes," said Sane to FIBA.basketball. 

Mali's Modibo goes to the hoop

Senegal recorded 30 turnovers, something that worried Fall and he said, "This is not good enough. We can do way better than this. Yes, we won and that is important but we cannot play like this again. We shall make amends."

Sidibe said that his teammates gave everything on the day but they will go back to the drawing game. "This is the first game of the tournament and we would have loved to win it but we shall reorganize ourselves and prepare for our next game."

Mali face Guinea on Saturday at 1530hrs GMT before hosts Egypt swing into action against Senegal at 1800hrs GMT. Both games will be live on the FIBA YouTube Channel. 

FIBA