Mali opt for same ingredients of success
BAMAKO (2016 FIBA U17 Women's World Championship) - Having rode to the top of the FIBA Africa U16 Women's Championship podium without tasting defeat last year, Mali are counting on 11 of their title winnin
BAMAKO (2016 FIBA U17 Women's World Championship) - Having rode to the top of the FIBA Africa U16 Women's Championship podium without tasting defeat last year, Mali are counting on 11 of their title winning side to carry their hopes in Zaragoza.
Looking to at least record a victory for the third consecutive edition of the FIBA U17 Women's World Championship, the Africans will be buoyed by being able to choose from a majority of players who know what it is like to rack up wins in national team colours.
| Mali 15-player squad for 2016 FIBA U17 Women's World Championship | |||
| Assetou Bagayoko | Aissetou Coulibaly | Alima Gnere Dembele | Mariam Diabate |
| Rokia Doumbia | Mariam Drame | Nafatoumata Haidara | Sika Kone |
| Salimatou Kourouma | Safiatou Mariko | Djeneba Sangare | Awa Sidibe |
| Assetou Sissoko | Mariam Traore, | Natacha Traore | |
Leading their charge in Group D against Brazil, Portugal and Spain will be top guard Rokia Doumbia, who poured in almost 15 point per game in Antananarivo last year and has been maturing all aspects of her game in the USA of late.
But Mali are far from a one-player team and that was evidenced via their super seven triumphs last year when five of their participants averaged a double-digit points return.
That highlighted how Mali could be a real handful later this month and will have more than merely Doumbia from an offense standpoint.
The squad also includes the powerful Salimatou Kourouma and Awa Sidibe who will offer a hard-nosed partnership under the basket, with their coring prowess complimented by their scoring on the glass.
Meanwhile, both Mariam Traore and Mariam Diabate are bidding to play at their second FIBA U17 Women's World Championship after also stepping out two years ago in Pilsen and Klatovy.
FIBA