Ndoye excited to represent Senegal again

DAKAR (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - Youssoupha Ndoye last summer hit the headlines by smashing a backboard during a FIBA AfroBasket Semifinals game against Nigeria, but the highlight he is really looking forward to is to see his native Senegal return to the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the second straight time.

But first, they have a homework to do.

From June 29 - July 1, Senegal will host Mozambique, Cote d'Ivoire and the Central African Republic for the second-leg of Group D of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers.

"IT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO PLAY WITH THE SENEGALESE NATIONAL TEAM. AND I AM HUMBLED AND BLESSED TO BE SELECTED TO THE FEW PEOPLE TO REPRESENT OUR COUNTRY."
Ndoye

It's a tournament that Ndoye feels he can't miss it, not only because it's a chance to play in front of his family again, but principally because it could see Senegal advance to the 12-team Second Round of the African Qualifiers. 

When FIBA.basketball asked the 7-footer center about the significance of the upcoming tournament, Ndoye - who made his debut with Senegal men's team last year - recalled that he and his Teranga Lions teammates are on a special mission.

"It is always a pleasure to represent my country and play for the national team, and I will be in Dakar to represent my country again," he said.

"It’s very significant for me to be able to play with the Senegalese national team. And I am humbled and blessed to be selected to the few people to represent our country."

Last summer Senegal gave their local fans plenty reasons to cheer to about as they finished the FIBA AfroBasket Group Phase - played in Dakar - undefeated in three games. 

Ndoye insists it's time to capitalise from that experience and secure one of the five tickets for African teams for next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

"It was the best moment in my career to be able to play the FIBA AfroBasket and to play in front of our fans who I believe are the best fans in the world. It means a lot for us to be able to play again in front of our fans and try to stay on top of the Group D. 

"2014 [FIBA Basketball World Cup] was a great run for us. And we want to even have a better run in 2019. And to do that we have to protect our home and take it one game out of time," Ndoye explained.

Four years ago, Senegal caused a FIBA Basketball World Cup storm by beating Puerto Rico and Croatia before stumbling to hosts Spain in the Last 16.

Yet, Senegal took many positives from the experience, Ndoye says.

"2014 was a great experience and we still have most of our players who went to the World Cup so that will help us a lot."

Despite a defeat to Cote d'Ivoire in the first-leg, Senegal lead Group D of the African Qualifiers, and Ndoye - who played a major role in the first-leg - admit that they could have done a lot better than they did.

"Maputo [the site of Group D first-leg] was good for us, even though our goal was to win all 3 games. But we were 2 and 1, which make us first in the group. The other 3 opponents are good teams. We battled with them even though we did not have all our players available."

Unlike FIBA's previous competition system, five rather than three African teams will represent the continent in China 2019, and Ndoye believes that "right now all the teams are good enough to qualify for the World Cup. Almost every team have a couple of players who play at a high-level competition with experience. And that’s why it’s always important to bring your A game in these Qualifiers because every team wants to make it. "

FIBA