Who are the top FIBA Women's AfroBasket prospects?

ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - To describe the new generation and future FIBA Women's AfroBasket stars as just talented is an understatement.

They are talented, gifted and - judging by their recent displays in FIBA Africa competitions - they are different and represent a blessing to their respective national teams.

Remember the likes of Ezinne Kalu, Astou Traore, Soraya Mohamed, Italee Lucas? They are all great, they are a joy to watch, but let's leave them aside and focus on players that you probably haven't heard of much recently. 

But who are the top FIBA Women's AfroBasket prospects?

Their age group ranges from 17 to 23, they have represented their countries internationally at least once, and, in most cases, international scouts, US Colleges and European clubs have wasted no time to give them a chance of a lifetime. 

With the next biennial FIBA Women's AfroBasket slated for 2021, here's a chance of getting to know a bit more about some future stars of Women's AfroBasket.

Lena Niang (23), Senegal

Don't be fooled by Niang's numbers at FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019, where she failed to score a single point in the first three games.

Matter of fact is when Senegal needed her most in the most important game of the championship, the ten 21-year-old stepped up, knocking down two of her three three-points attempts to finish with 8 points and 4 rebounds in a 60-55 defeat to eventual champions Nigeria.

The 6ft 2in (1.88m) center, who played for the Temple University, has a huge potential to help the Senegalese in upcoming tournaments. 

Chanaya Pinto (20), Mozambique

Perhaps Mozambique's biggest absence at last year's African Championship in Dakar, the 19-year-old, who starred at the FIBA Africa U16 Women's Championship 2015, where she led her country to a fourth-place finish, is unquestionably a star in the making.

Chanaya Pinto is seen in action at FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2017

After a season in Portugal's Campeonato Nacional, Pinto crossed the Atlantic to join the Northwest Florida State College. And in her first season, the 6ft 1in (1.86m) forward averaged almost 15 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. 

Djeneba N'diaye (23), Mali

Big stages have become N'diaye's comfort zone in recent years. After dominating FIBA Africa youth competitions for years in a row, winning everything possible, she made her introduction to the basketball world at the age of 15 at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup in 2012.

Djeneba N'diaye (Mali)

She returned to the competition two years later before showing off her scoring ability at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup.

The 6ft 1in (1.86m) guard made her debut with Mali's senior team at the age of 18 at 2015 FIBA Women's AfroBasket.  

Mariam Coulibaly (22), Mali

More than a year ago, she was only 20 when Mali did everything in their power to try to win their first Women's AfroBasket in a decade.

And with the 6ft 3in (1.94m) center dominating the paint and shooting well from behind the arc, Coulibaly reaffirmed that Mali basketball was in good hands. 

Shortly after the 2019 Women's AfroBasket, Mali great confidently Meiya Tirera announced she had played her last African Championship, a signed that Mali's new generation was ready to take over.  

Marian Gnanou (23), Cote d'Ivoire

Siblings Kani and Mariama Kouayte carried the the Ivorian flag at African Championships for years in a row. And although they remain influential to the Ivoirians, there is new player to watch out. 

Far from being a top scorer, Gnanou, a 6ft 5in (1.96m) center, has become the piece Cote d'Ivoire to face bigger and towering opposition. She averaged a team-high seven rebounds at last year's Women's AfroBasket.

She last played for the Oklahoma State University.

Joseana Vaz (20), Cape Verde

Vaz represents a breath of fresh air to Cape Verde's women's basketball. Aggressive at both ends of the floor, the 20-year-old, who currently plays for CAB Madeira in Portugal's topflight, appears as the potential replacement to team leader Jade Leitao.

Even though she only played three games, Vaz finished as the second best-scorers at FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019 with 15 points per game.   

Sara Caetano (17) - Angola

For some, Caetano is one of Angolas' best talent in recent in years. Best scorer at FIBA U16 Women's African Championship,  she was named Most Valuable Player at last year's Basketball Without Borders' camp in Dakar.  

Sara Caetano (Angola)

Alexia Dizeko (19) - Angola

One of the reasons Angola claimed a Third-Place finish at FIBA U18 Women's African Championship 2018 was Dizekos's scoring prowess.

Fast and aggressive to attack the basket, the 19-year-old contributed 13 points per game in that tournament, and it came as no surprise that she made to the All-Tournament team.

And of course, the Angolan senior team called her up for the FIBA Women's AfroBasket last year.

Batouly Camara (23) - Guinea

Guinea missed out a spot at last year's African Championship by a whisker. Batouly was huge in the two-game playoff series against Cape Verde. She led the West African at both ends of the floor, but we are going to need to wait to see her in action at Women's AfroBasket.

The former University of Connecticut standout, has recently joined Club Baloncesto Bembibre in Spain's Liga Feminina.  

Raneem Elgedawy (23) - Egypt

With two FIBA Youth Basketball World Cups her belt, Elgedawy needed no introduction when she made her debut with the senior team at the age of 18 at at FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2015 in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Raneem Elgedawy (Egypt)

And one of the reasons of Egypt's tremendous success in the Cameroonian capital was Elgedawy's ferocity, aggressiveness to play against taller and more experienced opposition.

She currently plays for the Western Kentucky University.

Meral Abdelgawad (21) - Egypt

Three years ago at FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup, Abdelgawad finished as the second-leading scorer with 17.4 points per game - one point short of MVP Maria Vadeeva.

A quick and cool-minded point guard, Abdelgawad enjoys a bright future with the Egyptian national team.

Just like Elgedawy, Abdelgawad plays for Western Kentucky University. 

Bella Murekatete (20), Rwanda

An All-Star nominee at the FIBA U18 Women's African Championship 2018, Murekatete averaged a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds en route to Rwanda's historic Fourth-Place.

 

The 6ft 5in (1.96m) center is believed to be one a future leader of the Rwandan team, who last featured at FIBA Women's AfroBasket back in 2009. 

Murekatete currently plays for Washington State University. Her profile page suggests "she is believed to be the first Rwandan-born woman to play in Division."

Blessed with a number of players currently playing college basketball in the US, Nigeria can at any given time come up with a handful of future stars.

The FIBA Women's AfroBasket Qualifiers will take place before the end of the year. The semifinalist from last year's African Championship (Nigeria, Senegal, Mali and Mozambique) have qualified automatically for the 12-nation tournament.

FIBA