FIBA Africa official Cherif discusses basketball's development in Mauritania

NOUAKCHOTT - The development of basketball in Mauritania was the main topic of conversation last week between Habib Cherif, the President of FIBA Africa's Coaches' Committee, Mauritania's Basketball Federation (FBRIM) and local sports stakeholders in the country's capital city of Nouakchott.

During his four-day visit (23-26 May), Cherif met the Secretary General of the country's Ministry of Sports, the President of the National Olympic Committee and members of the FBRIM's executive board to discuss the growth of the game and the building of modern infrastructures in the country.

"We had very good meetings regarding the implementation of FIBA's new competition system, which is due to come into effect from 2017. And the basketball stakeholders showed interest in this worldwide project," Cherif told FIBA.com.

Mauritania last featured at a continental tournament in 1985, and FBRIM is working towards relaunching its basketball programmes.

Cherif warned: "There is a lot of work to achieve this goal as the country is lacking crucial practice and competitions facilities."

However, Youssouf Fall, the President of the FBRIM, remains confident about the future of the game in the country.

"As you may know, we need support from FIBA Africa and FIBA to set things in order but I am confident that there will be a big change in the coming years because we are here for this purpose," he said.

Cherif, who shares the same view as Fall, pointed to the fact that Mauritania needs assistance in the governance of the national federation as well as putting in place competitive local leagues for youth and senior men and women.

FIBA