TEAM PROFILE: Senegal back in hunt for glory days

 

DAKAR (Senegal) - There's no questions about Senegal's objectives at the 2023 FIBA Women's AfroBasket, and this has became clearer by the way with which the team restructured for the 12-nation tournament.

Only four players from the 2021 squad remain for the Kigali showdown (July 28 - August 5).

So, what makes this Senegal team a title contender of this year's Women's AfroBasket?

- Senegal called-up two-time Women's AfroBasket MVP Aya Traore, who was sidelined for the last two editions of the tournament;

- They brought back veteran point guard Fatou Dieng, who hasn't played for her country since the 2017 African Championship in Bamako;

- The Lionesses seem to have acknowledged that a quality naturalised player would make a difference;

-  The Senegalese opened their training camp well in advance compared to the majority of their opponents;

- Senegal selected a talented and skilful squad as a way to bounce back from disappointments from the last three editions of the tournament, where they finished fourth (2021) and second (2019 and 2017).

For the most successful team in the history of the biennial Women's AfroBasket, missing out on the continental title since 2015 must be hurtful.

Find below a fact file about Senegal. 

Team: Senegal

Ranking: 31st in the World; 3rd in Africa

Last participation in Women's AfroBasket: 2021 (2-4),

Best result at the AfroBasket: Senegal are Africa's most successful women's national team with eleven continental titles (1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2009 and 2015).

How they qualified for the AfroBasket: Qualified automatically by reaching the Semi-Finals of the 2021 African Championship. 

Africa: Senegal have dropped to No.3 in Africa, but their history speaks for itself.

Thanks to Senegal's success at continental level, they have played at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 1975, 1979, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2018. The Lionesses have featured three editions of the Olympics in 2000, 2008 and 2016.

The Senegalese haven't missed a single FIBA Women's AfroBasket appearance in the las two decades.

2023 AfroBasket Group: Senegal face Mali and Uganda in the Group Phase.

Yacine Diop

Star Players: Yacine Diop has established her status as one of Senegal's leading scorers. Two years ago in Yaounde, Diop was one of the two players - alongside Mame Marie Sy Diop - to average ten points or more per game. She finished with a team-high 13.6 points ahead of Sy Diop who contributed 12.4 points per game.

In the absence of Sy Diop and Astou Traore, Yacine Diop should play a leading role within the Lionesses' rotation.

New addition: Cierra Dillard acquired Senegalese citizenship a couple of months ago, making her eligible for the Women's AfroBasket.

Last December, the 27-year-old played a huge role in helping Sporting Alexandria of Egypt win the 2022 FIBA Africa Women's Champions Cup in Maputo, Mozambique.

Coach: Eight years ago, Moustapha Gaye guided Senegal to the FIBA Women's AfroBasket title after beating hosts Cameroon in front of full capacity arena in Yaounde, but since then the Lionesses have not won a single African title even with Gaye back at the helm of the team two years ago, where they finished fourth in the Cameroonian capital city.

Under Gaye, Senegal won two African championships in 2009 and 2015.

Gaye coached Senegal at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

Outlook: Although Senegal lost to Mozambique 70-69 in a scrimmage last weekend in Kigali, the Lionesses seem to gather all the necessary means to try and fight for their first African title since 2015. 

However, beating Mali and Uganda - which would qualify them directly to the Quarter-Finals - emerges as a tough test and they need to pass it with A-grades.

FIBA