Mbaye Ndiaye wants to showcase his dunking prowess at the World Cup

 

BLOIS (France) - Mbaye Ndiaye has become a massive addition for Senegal in recent times and he's hoping to showcase his apparent unlimited talent at this year's FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Left out of the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket after some eye-catching displays in the Qualifiers, Mbaye didn't trow the towel in and transformed the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers into an opportunity to prove that he belongs in Senegal's rotation.

How right he was! 

The 24-year-old Mbaye has been phenomenal for Senegal. From being a terrifying defender to attacking the rim with acrobatic dunks, Mbaye vows to do everything he possible can to help to help his country return to the World Cup for the third straight time.

But, first, there is some work to be done.

From Friday, February 24 until Sunday, February 26, Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria is where Mbaye and his teammates will try to make history when they go up against reigning African champions Tunisia, South Sudan and Cameroon.

If Senegal can be as effective as they were in the last window of the African Qualifiers in Monastir, where they beat hosts Tunisia, Cameroon and high-flying South Sudan to relaunch their World Cup aspirations, it's going to be "Job done," for a team that showed some inconsistency earlier in the Qualifiers.

"I really can't wait to play in the next window and punch the ticket to go the next FIBA World Cup," Mbaye told FIBA.basketball.

"I dream about competitions like this, I dream about winning games and medals and trophies with Senegal as my country is very important for me," Ndiaye added.

Gorgui Dieng, Youssoupha Ndoye and Brancou Badio have been the backbone of Senegal throughout the World Cup African Qualifiers, but Mbaye's numbers tell the story of an ambitious man looking to establish himself as valuable option.

With an Efficiency rating of 10.5 in six games (third behind Dieng and Ndoye), and an average of 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, the 2.04m (6ft 8in) forward  isn't resting in his laurels. 

Mbaye feels like he is on a mission. "I am still young, but I want to help the national team for the longest time I can. Representing my country is a big thing for me, I take a lot of pride in being from Senegal and I hope to keep representing the county the best way I can. I would love to be in the next FIBA World Cup for the team, that would be awesome."

Senegal currently third in Group F behind South Sudan and Egypt. They can't contemplate any failures in Alexandria, and Mbaye knows it too well.

"We have to qualify for the FIBA World Cup," he adamantly emphasised. 

"We don’t have any other option. Senegal belong between the top teams of the planet and we have to be part of next year's World Cup, that is very, very important not only for us, but for the entire Senegalese basketball.

"The campaign has been a bit complicated until the last window, but we were able to bounce back after showing three fantastic team performances to turn things around and be in a better position to qualify now.

"The goal is to qualify and to keep putting Senegal in the world's basketball map, and to show that we are still a powerhouse of African basketball."

Asked about his role within the team's rotation, Mbaye, who plies his trade with ADA Blois in France's PRO-A, humbly replied: "I am just another soldier of the team, and I am really enjoying that role on the team. I am a team player, I am here to make my people proud and make Senegal shine at international level."

FIBA